National Assembly suspends official visits to South Africa

The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed its members and officials to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities until further notice.

The decision was contained in a statement issued by the House of Representatives spokesman, Akin Rotimi, on Friday.

“The Leadership of the National Assembly, led by H.E. Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, President of the Senate, and Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to communicate to all Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, Committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff the decision of the National Assembly to suspend all official visits to the Republic of South Africa and boycott South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities and engagements until further notice,” the statement read.

It followed concerns over reports of continued xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.