The Congress of the People (Cope) has questioned whether government is making Clayson Monyela the “scapegoat” for the diplomatic fallout between South Africa and Nigeria. The Presidency on Tuesday distanced itself from a statement issued by Monyela‚ the Department of International Relations and Co-operation’s spokesman‚ which attacked Nigeria for recalling two senior diplomats.Nigeria’s foreign minister Aminu Wali denied they had been recalled and said they were actually invited back to Abuja for “consultation” following the recent xenophobic attacks.But Monyela fought back‚ saying: “You are sending a message that you are protesting against certain things and that’s why we asked in our statement we are not sure which actions of the South African government they are protesting against. What are these things?”Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe told journalists on Tuesday: “I will reiterate our position‚ we still have cordial relations with all the members of the African Union…very cordial relations.”“Cope is startled to hear that Clayson Monyela spoke to the media without authority. Nigeria had withdrawn its envoy and instead of calming relations‚ Monyela inflamed the tension‚” Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem said.“Minister Radebe is insisting that relationships with Nigeria are cordial but are they? Double speak will worsen our strained relations.”Bloem said that government needs to explain on what authority Monyela issued his statement.“Surely he could never have done that without specific clearance from the minister of international affairs?” he opined.“Is government making Clayson a scapegoat and asking him to take the blame? Is government promising to reward him later with an ambassadorial position?”Bloem warned that more harm would be inflicted “on South Africa’s already tainted image” in “trying to extricate itself from this awful diplomatic mess”.To make matters worse‚ Bloem said‚ Zimbabwe’s Minister of State Information Johnathan Moyo has now attacked President Zuma over “irresponsible statements he made on Human Rights Day”.Zuma told a gathering at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Monday that African leaders should share some of the blame for the problems of migration and the recent xenophobic attacks...