Presidency says Ghana at centre of campaign to isolate South Africa over migration tensions

The South African Presidency has accused Ghana of driving a campaign to portray the country as isolated over recent tensions surrounding anti-illegal immigration protests. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya raised the allegation during a media briefing at the Union Buildings, saying the government had observed a sustained campaign over the past two months.

Allegations of deliberate misinformation

Magwenya told reporters that the campaign had sought to create the impression that “South Africa had become a pariah state that should be referred to international courts.” He said this occurred “despite numerous official government communications condemning acts of vigilantism against foreign nationals, asserting the state’s primary role in enforcing immigration laws, and reaffirming its commitment to the supremacy of the Constitution.”

The Presidency singled out what it described as the spread of false information by a diplomatic representative, saying ordinary diplomatic exchanges had been “deliberately misrepresented to create the impression that South Africa is being isolated.”

Engagement with Ghana

When asked whether he was referring to the Ghanaian government, Magwenya confirmed that he was. He said: “The answer to your first question is yes. Concerns have been directly expressed to the Ghanaian High Commissioner by our Department of International Relations and Cooperation.”

Magwenya added that ministers, including Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, chairing the IMC, “have called on the High Commissioner to make an effort to verify the information he puts out by engaging with the relevant authorities.”

Government stance and response

Magwenya emphasised that the government rejected and cautioned against the dissemination of false information about South Africa, saying: “We further assert that any campaign that seeks to misrepresent what South Africa is and what it represents will be rejected with the utmost contempt that it deserves.”

He also said the campaign was faltering and asserted that “South Africa is not isolated,” while stressing that the country remained “firmly engaged with the African continent and the rest of the world.”

Context: repatriation and backlash

The remarks came as the voluntary repatriation of undocumented migrants continued, an exercise that has drawn backlash from some quarters across Africa, the Presidency noted.

What officials emphasised

• Officials said they had observed a sustained two-month campaign aimed at isolating South Africa.
• The Presidency expressed concern about false information spread by a diplomatic representative and the misrepresentation of diplomatic exchanges.
• Direct concerns have been communicated to the Ghanaian High Commissioner by South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

This article is a rewrite of reporting by IOL.