The South African government has dismissed claims that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and members of her team were denied visas, even as Grammy-winning South African artiste Tyla quietly removed Lagos from her world tour schedule.
The developments come amid renewed diplomatic concerns and growing public debate over reports of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians living in South Africa.
South Africa’s Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, said authorities have no official record showing that Ayra Starr or members of her team applied for or were refused South African visas.
According to him, anyone making such allegations should provide the names of the affected individuals and their visa application reference numbers to enable immigration officials verify the claims.
He explained that without those details, authorities cannot investigate the matter or confirm whether any visa application was rejected.
The controversy has reignited calls from some Nigerians for the Federal Government to adopt a reciprocal visa policy for South African entertainers if evidence emerges that Nigerian artistes are being unfairly treated.
The debate dates back to February 2024 when Ayra Starr’s scheduled performances in Johannesburg and Cape Town were cancelled after organisers announced that visa-related issues had prevented the singer and her team from travelling.
Concert promoters at the time said the cancellation resulted from visa challenges and assured ticket holders that refunds would be processed.
Attention has also shifted to South African singer Tyla, who had earlier listed Lagos as one of the stops on her world tour.
The Nigerian date would have marked her first headline concert in the country.
However, a review of Tyla’s updated tour schedule shows that the Lagos performance has been removed while other international dates remain unchanged.
Neither the singer nor her management has publicly explained why the Nigerian stop was dropped.
The removal has sparked fresh reactions on social media, with many Nigerians questioning the timing amid renewed discussions about the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.
Some commentators have also urged Nigerian authorities to review visa policies for South African entertainers if Nigerian artistes continue to face travel difficulties.
At the same time, inflammatory comments circulating on social media from some South African users have further heightened tensions after calls for Nigerians to leave the country surfaced online.
Although the comments have been widely condemned, they do not reflect the official position of the South African government.
Foreign affairs observers have also expressed concern that the current diplomatic atmosphere may not be favourable for major cultural exchanges until relations improve.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has continued engaging South African authorities over measures aimed at preventing future xenophobic attacks.
DailyInsightNG gathered that Nigeria is also seeking compensation for citizens who lost lives, businesses and property during previous attacks while urging South Africa to fully activate the bilateral Early Warning Mechanism established by both countries to address future crises.
Despite the growing public debate, South African officials maintain that diplomatic relations between Abuja and Pretoria remain constructive, noting that both governments continue to hold discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation and easing tensions.