South African Justice Minister Jeff Radebe says his country is not a battleground for foreign nations after the expulsion of three Rwandan diplomats suspected of masterminding an attack on an exiled Rwandan general’s home in Johannesburg.

Radebe told a press conference on Wednesday that the government has evidence linking the three diplomats to “illegal activities” in the country, saying that “We want to send a very stern warning to anybody anywhere in the world that our country will not be used as a springboard” for such practices.

“Any individual or groups of people who abuse our human rights dispensation... will face the full might of the law,” he added.

On March 7, South Africa expelled the Rwandan diplomats and one from Burundi in connection with the “assassination attempt” on the home of former Rwandan army Chief General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa.

In response, Rwanda ordered the expulsion of six South African envoys, saying that the decision to kick out the Rwandan envoys was “simply wrong.”

“South Africa expelling law-abiding Rwandan diplomats was simply wrong and Rwanda has every right to reciprocate," Rwanda's Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said on Twitter.

The assassination attempt against Nyamwasa occurred on March 3 when armed men raided his home- though he was not there at the time.

The attack followed the murder of former Rwandan spymaster Patrick Karegeya in South Africa in January who was a high-profile critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Rwanda, however, has denied any involvement in such attacks on exiled dissidents living in the African country.