Fani-Kayode Alleges Exclusion From South African Presidency Livestream

Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, has accused the South African Presidency of deliberately removing his address from the livestream of a diplomatic ceremony where he presented his letters of credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The former Nigerian Minister of Aviation made the allegation in a detailed post on his official X account after Friday’s ceremony at the Sefako M. Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane, Gauteng.
Fani-Kayode was among 15 ambassadors and high commissioners formally presenting their credentials to President Ramaphosa. The event was broadcast live on YouTube by the South African Presidency, with each diplomat given an opportunity to deliver brief remarks before presenting their credentials.
However, the livestream reportedly experienced a technical interruption while Antoine Michon, France’s ambassador to South Africa, was speaking. The broadcast then cut to President Ramaphosa addressing the diplomats, rather than continuing with the individual speeches.
Fani-Kayode, who was the final diplomat to present his credentials after Michon, alleged that his own address was deliberately excluded from the broadcast.
“They went a step further by cutting us out of the livestream completely and went back on livestream only after my speech was concluded,” he wrote.
According to Fani-Kayode, he raised the issue directly with President Ramaphosa during a subsequent photo session. He said the South African president directed officials responsible for the broadcast to address the matter.
Fani-Kayode claimed that Ramaphosa personally took him to the officials and questioned them about the alleged exclusion.
“Right there in my presence he questioned them and directed them to resolve the issue immediately. Sadly, by then it was too late and Nigeria had been left out. To be clear, I repeat, we were the only ones that were left out,” he said.
The Nigerian envoy suggested that certain elements in South Africa were uncomfortable with Nigeria’s diplomatic presence. He, however, said he would continue in his role for as long as he retained President Ramaphosa’s confidence.
“Clearly some elements in South Africa do not want to hear what we have to say or see our faces, but we are here to stay as long as we are welcome and have the confidence of President Ramaphosa, which I am sure we do,” he added.
Fani-Kayode also said he declined an interview offered by SABC News, South Africa’s state broadcaster, following what he described as unacceptable treatment during the ceremony.
He said he would release a recording of his speech, which he claimed was captured by two Nigerian television stations at the event. He also promised to make public footage of his interaction with President Ramaphosa over the incident.