By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South African authorities on Friday said there will be consequences against anyone found to be engaging in xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians and other foreign nationals living in the country.
This came a day after Ghanaian nationals staged a protest over videos of violent incidents circulating on social media.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, summoned South Africa’s envoy on Thursday and called for an “intervention … to prevent further escalation”.
Migrant rights activists say foreigners have been scapegoated in South Africa over the country’s economic woes.
Ablakwa expressed concern over an incident in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province where a Ghanaian national was confronted, asked to provide proof of his legal status and told to leave and “fix his country”, his ministry said on X.
South Africa’s police ministry said in a statement that all those found participating in or inciting xenophobic acts would be identified, apprehended and brought before the courts.
“Acts of lawlessness, intimidation and violence against migrant communities have no place in our constitutional democracy,” South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ronald Lamola, said at a meeting of government officials.
Violence against migrants was a threat to South Africa’s constitutional order, Lamola added.
The police asked community leaders and civil society groups to help prevent further attacks and promote dialogue.
South Africa has faced sever criticism over regular attacks on business entities belonging to migrants in the country, sometimes unprovoked.
Businesses have recorded huge losses resulting from looting, arson or damages in these attacks, which have seen mostly Nigerians affected. The promoters often accuse foreign nationals of taking their jobs, amidst economic woes in the country.
