Image Source: Quartz
Africa – Ghana has formally written to the African Union calling for urgent intervention over what it called recurring xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa, with the matter set to feature on the agenda of the AU’s Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in El Alamein, Egypt.
In a memo, addressed to the AU chairperson, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa said the attacks resulted in loss of lives, destruction of investments and threats to the safety of African nationals in South Africa. Ablakwa argued that the violence runs counter to the principles of African solidarity that member states are bound to uphold.
“It is particularly troubling that manifestations of xenophobia, including violent attacks against fellow Africans, have persisted in recent years,” the letter stated.
Ghana told the AU that the attacks violate the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and undermine both Pan-African integration and the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Accra called on the AU to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, establish a fact-finding mission into the root causes of the violence, and pursue dialogue aimed at promoting tolerance and continental unity.
According to reports, Nigeria has also raised the issue, offering to repatriate its nationals, while Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have warned their citizens in South Africa to be on the lookout for possible attacks.
South Africa Condemns Fake Xenophobic Attacks
However, Pretoria pushed back against the growing international narrative, with the Cabinet condemning the spread of fake videos and images claiming to show attacks on foreign nationals in the country. Cabinet said the content was a calculated attempt to damage South Africa’s reputation and derail its pursuit of a better Africa agenda.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing in Cape Town, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni acknowledged that demonstrations against undocumented immigrants had spread across several major cities but was clear that violence tied to those protests would not be tolerated.
“South Africans are within their right to protest against the spiralling illegal immigration challenge, but violence linked to those protests in the past is not acceptable, and law enforcement must deal with the instigators of such violence,” Ntshavheni said.
Cabinet said it was working to address illegal immigration through stronger border management, faster deportations and workplace inspections across sectors, including hospitality, construction and trucking.
A Revised White Paper on Immigration was also tabled, with measures including relocating refugee reception centres closer to borders and reserving certain trades for South African citizens and recognised refugees.
