By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, May 8, GNA – The Government of South Africa has rejected claims of targeted xenophobic attacks against African nationals while defending its migration policies and commitment to Pan-African solidarity.
This follows Ghana’s push for the African Union (AU) to debate the issue at its upcoming summit in Egypt.
The South African Government said although isolated incidents involving immigrants had occurred in some communities, authorities had acted swiftly to contain the situation and enforce the law, insisting there was no credible evidence to support claims that Ghanaian and Nigerian nationals had been killed by law enforcement agencies during recent protests.
The response follows a formal diplomatic request by Ghana to the African Union Commission for the issue titled “Xenophobic Attacks in the Republic of South Africa against African Nationals” to be included on the agenda of the Eighth AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting scheduled for June 24 to 27, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt.
In a letter signed by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Government of Ghana described the recurring attacks on African migrants in South Africa as a matter of urgent continental concern requiring collective African action.
Ghana said the repeated incidents had resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of businesses and growing insecurity among African nationals residing in South Africa.
The letter added that the attacks undermined the principles of African solidarity, brotherhood and continental unity, particularly given the support African countries extended to South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle.
According to Ghana, the incidents also contradicted the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and violated provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Ghana consequently proposed that the AU strengthen continental monitoring mechanisms, establish a fact-finding mission into xenophobic violence in South Africa and facilitate dialogue and reconciliation initiatives aimed at promoting tolerance, inclusion and Pan-African unity.
In a detailed media statement issued Friday by South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Pretoria acknowledged Ghana’s request to the AU, but described the decision to escalate concerns about irregular migration and xenophobic attacks to the continental body as “regrettable”.
The statement said the South African Government remained committed to continued diplomatic engagement and constructive dialogue with fellow African states on matters of mutual concern.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was quoted in the statement as condemning xenophobia and warning against prejudice toward fellow Africans.
Speaking during South Africa’s Freedom Day celebration on April 27, 2026, President Ramaphosa acknowledged the solidarity African countries demonstrated during South Africa’s liberation struggle and stressed that concerns over illegal migration should not fuel hatred against immigrants.
“We did not walk alone into freedom. We were carried by a tide of solidarity from the nations of Africa,” President Ramaphosa stated.
He added that South Africa should never “trample into the dust the African fellowship that made our freedom possible.”
South Africa’s Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, also held engagements with his Ghanaian and Nigerian counterparts as well as African ambassadors resident in Pretoria to provide clarification on recent developments.
According to the South African Government, Minister Lamola reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to protect the rights of nationals, residents and visitors in line with the rule of law.
The statement cautioned against manipulated social media footage and divisive narratives surrounding recent incidents involving immigrants.
“There is no credible evidence to draw this conclusion at this stage,” the statement said regarding reports alleging deaths of Ghanaian and Nigerian nationals during recent confrontations.
South Africa explained the broader migration pressures confronting the country and the continent.
According to Pretoria, South Africa currently hosted approximately three million migrants, about 90 per cent of whom are from African countries, making it the continent’s largest host of African immigrants.
The Government said economic hardship, unemployment, social inequality and undocumented migration had contributed to tensions in some communities.
It, however, stressed that most immigrants had integrated into South African society and continued to serve as an important bridge between South Africa and the rest of the continent.
South Africa said it remained committed to regional and continental migration frameworks, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons and AU migration initiatives.
The statement outlined measures being implemented to strengthen immigration management, including a points-based visa system, reforms to migration policy, tighter border management systems and deportation exercises targeting undocumented migrants.
South Africa’s Border Management Authority, according to the statement, had deported approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants since April 2023.
Pretoria argued that migration challenges in Africa should be addressed through practical continental solutions based on burden-sharing, governance reforms, economic opportunities and regional cooperation rather than division and blame.
The Government added that should the AU agree to place Ghana’s proposed item on the summit agenda, South Africa would also request discussions on the “push and pull factors” driving migration on the continent, including governance, democracy, rule of law and economic disparities.
The latest diplomatic exchanges between Ghana and South Africa highlight growing concerns over migration governance, regional integration and the protection of migrants’ rights across Africa.
Xenophobic violence in South Africa has periodically sparked diplomatic tensions across the continent over the past two decades, with migrants from countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Mozambique and Ethiopia often affected during outbreaks of violence.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba
