African Ambassadors Postpone Own Africa Day Events Over Security Concerns

African ambassadors to South Africa said they postponed their own Africa Day celebrations for security reasons and did not intend to boycott the main government event. The clarification came after a Sunday Times report stated that André Nzapayeké, ambassador of the Central African Republic and dean of the African ambassadorial corps, had written to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation informing Minister Ronald Lamola that the ambassadors would not participate in Africa Day celebrations this year.

Nzapayeké told Daily Maverick the report was factually wrong. He said the letter informed Lamola only that the ambassadors had decided, for security reasons, to postpone their own events.

The original report framed the decision as a protest against recent xenophobic attacks and harassment of foreign Africans in South Africa. The Moruleng event proceeded on Monday and was addressed by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie. Nzapayeké's statement sought to correct the record that the ambassadors' decision was unrelated to any boycott of the official program.