A Ghanaian man has been killed during anti-immigration protests in South Africa, prompting opposition leader Julius Malema to accuse the government of sponsoring what he described as “gangsterism”. The fatal shooting, confirmed by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has heightened concerns over the safety of foreign nationals and placed renewed international attention on the country’s recurring anti-migrant violence.
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The comments came after several anti-immigration groups staged nationwide protests, insisting that undocumented foreign nationals should leave South Africa. The demonstrations, which turned violent in several areas, have drawn widespread attention across Africa and sparked renewed debate over immigration, crime and the protection of foreign nationals.
Malema blames government as violence escalates
Speaking in an interview with Sky News, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) dismissed suggestions that the protests reflected genuine public anger towards foreign nationals.
Instead, he described those behind the demonstrations as criminals seeking to exploit migrants and accused the South African government of using the unrest to divert attention from its own shortcomings.
“It’s clownish and stupid. There is no xenophobia in South Africa. It’s just a group of charlatans, extortionists, disruptors and corrupt individuals who want to extort foreign nationals.
“It’s not xenophobia. It’s gangsterism sponsored by government. The government is fully informed to distract our people from many major issues. How can an ordinary person be handling a man in front of the police, because it’s a crime on its own,” he said.
Malema also rejected claims by some anti-immigration groups that migrants from countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe are responsible for most violent crime in South Africa.
According to him, available crime records show that the overwhelming majority of serious offences, including rape, are committed by South African citizens rather than foreign nationals.
“Go and check the cases of rape. Who raped South Africa? South African men. Who beats up South Africa’s children? South African men. The majority of prisoners are not Zimbabweans, Ghanaians or Nigerians. They are South African men.
“When you say foreigners are committing crime, why are they not in jail? Because they are not committing any crime, but they become an easy target.”
One Ghanaian killed as police make hundreds of arrests
The protests followed an unofficial deadline issued by several anti-immigration groups demanding that undocumented migrants leave South Africa by 30 June.
While organisers claimed foreign nationals were taking jobs and contributing to crime, those allegations remain strongly disputed and do not justify attacks on migrants or other civilians.
Violence broke out in several locations as protesters targeted businesses and individuals believed to be foreign nationals.
The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that a Ghanaian man was shot dead during the unrest in Cape Town.
South African police subsequently arrested hundreds of people for offences including assault, looting and public violence.
According to multiple South African media reports, nearly 250 people were arrested in the Eastern Cape, while about 200 undocumented migrants were also detained during enforcement operations.
Police are separately investigating the death of another person in Durban following a break-in at a storage facility. Authorities also arrested 10 suspects in connection with the looting of shops in Delft, Cape Town.
What happens next?
The killing of the Ghanaian national has renewed concerns about the safety of African migrants living in South Africa and is expected to feature prominently in diplomatic engagements between Accra and Pretoria.
South African police say investigations into the violence are continuing, while Ghanaian authorities are working with their South African counterparts over the incident. The developments are likely to keep immigration, public safety and the protection of foreign nationals high on the agenda in both countries in the coming days.
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