A diplomatic row between South Africa and Ghana has erupted after claims that a Ghanaian man was killed during anti-migrant protests in Cape Town — allegations that South Africa’s justice minister dismissed as “false information”.
Ghana’s foreign ministry said it had received with “profound shock” reports that Bashiru Isak, 40, had been shot dead on Tuesday in Khayelitsha township, while protests demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country swept across South Africa. It sent a formal protest note and filed a complaint with the police.
“South Africa and Ghana in diplomatic row after Ghana claims a citizen was killed in anti-migrant protests; South Africa denies.”
But South Africa’s police said they had “no record of the Khayelitsha murder”. They were, however, investigating the killing a day earlier of 35-year-old Ghanaian Kwabena Boagen, allegedly in an extortion-linked crime in the Nyanga township. According to the police, suspects entered the barbershop where Boagen worked, demanded money and shot him. No arrests have been made.
South African foreign ministry official Clayson Monyela told the BBC that claims linking Isak’s death to the anti-migrant protests were a “fabricated tale”. The police urged Ghanaian authorities to provide details of the Khayelitsha incident so the matter could be probed further.
The protests, which began in early May, have displaced tens of thousands of migrants. In the Sherwood suburb of Durban, around 10,000 terrified migrants from various African countries have taken refuge in a field beside a mosque, living in makeshift tents after being chased from their homes. The camp recently came under attack from rioters, who were dispersed with rubber bullets.
Tuesday was the unofficial deadline set by anti-migrant groups for all undocumented foreigners to leave the country. Thousands marched across main cities. The police said the protests were largely peaceful but about 900 people were arrested, mostly for immigration offences and looting. Some 25,000 people have left South Africa so far, with Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria among the countries repatriating citizens.
The vigilante groups, including March and March led by former radio presenter Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, and Operation Dudula, have gone door to door demanding papers. The Zulu activist Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, who has more than 1.5 million Facebook followers, has led large crowds through the streets.
At least two people have died in the unrest, though the Malawian government claims the real number is five. The vigilantes have declared a 30 June deadline for illegal migrants to leave. What they will do after that date remains unclear.