Ronald Lamola rejects Ghana claims of mass violence against foreign nationals

South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has publicly rejected a series of claims by Ghanaian MP Samuel Ablakwa that foreign nationals were killed, injured or unlawfully targeted during recent anti-immigration protests in South Africa.

Minister says allegations were checked and found untrue

In a public response to an interview given by Ablakwa in Ghanaian media, Lamola said several allegations relating to deaths, injuries, and the treatment of foreign nationals had been verified with South African authorities and found to be untrue. He said he had watched the interview “with shock and disappointment” because it was “riddled with misinformation and factual inaccuracies”.

Specific claims disputed

Lamola disputed Ablakwa’s assertion that “almost 80% of the Ghanaians that you have repatriated and that have assisted you to repatriate were legal in South Africa,” saying that claim was “not true” and that the matter had been communicated to the High Commissioner.

He also said checks with law enforcement and state authorities showed “there was no Nigerian, or there is no Nigerian national that has been killed during this current wave of attack”.

On reported Mozambican deaths, Lamola said reports that five Mozambican nationals had been killed were incorrect. “At least two Mozambican nationals have indeed been killed, and the South African Police Service is investigating the matter. It’s following leads with possible arrests soon,” he said.

Lamola further rejected a claim that 16 Ghanaian nationals had been admitted to hospitals following unrest, saying checks with law enforcement agencies, hospitals and officials liaising with Ghana’s High Commission produced no evidence to support that allegation. “The fourth lie in the interview is that there are 16 Ghanaian nationals and we have, as the South African government, been informed about these 16 nationals who are in the hospitals in South Africa. I have verified with our law enforcement agencies this, again, it is not true,” he said.

Diplomatic concerns and next steps

Lamola expressed concern that Ablakwa used social media and media interviews instead of established diplomatic channels, saying that approach was not helping relations between the two countries. “So, this proves your line of communication of intending to engage with the South African government through social media, through interviews, that it is really not helping to restore what should be cordial working relations between the two countries,” he said.

He said the South African government had extended condolences to the Mozambican government and condemned the killings. “We deeply regret this incident and we have condemned it with the strongest terms,” Lamola said.

Despite the dispute over the facts, Lamola said South Africa remained committed to maintaining cordial relations with Ghana and was prepared to engage bilaterally or through the African Union on challenges relating to irregular migration. “Ghanaians are our brothers, and we want to continue to live with them, engage with them, and resolve issues amicably,” he said. He added: “Irregular migration is a global challenge. It is not unique to South Africa. It will need all of us as African states to share responsibility to deal with irregular migration.”

Ongoing investigations

Lamola said the South African Police Service was investigating the confirmed Mozambican deaths and was “following leads with possible arrests soon”.