South Africa denounces ‘spectacles’ of Ghana repatriations

Hundreds of Ghanaians are leaving South Africa over anti-immigrant tensions. (AFP)

• South Africa, the continent’s most industrialized economy, has long been a destination for both legal and undocumented African workers

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa on Saturday warned Ghana it would “not tolerate public spectacles” in the evacuations of Ghanaian citizens from the country over anti-immigrant tensions.
Ghana organized repatriation flights for hundreds of its nationals last month in response to a wave of protests and violence targeting foreigners in South Africa.
Ghana’s embassy in South Africa published a video of evacuees waving Ghanaian flags in the aircraft to mark the departure of the latest repatriation flight.
“Our initial hope was simply to assist the Government of Ghana in repatriating its citizens in a humane and cordial manner,” South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola wrote on X, in response to a video of comments by his Ghanaian counterpart, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa.
“However, we will not continue to tolerate... public spectacles, characterised by incomplete information and outright misinformation devoid of any diplomatic decorum.”
South Africa, the continent’s most industrialized economy, has long been a destination for both legal and undocumented African workers.
But saddled with an unemployment rate of more than 30 percent, it has seen repeated spurts of xenophobic protests — including renewed violence in recent weeks.
A viral video showing the alleged assault of a Ghanaian man triggered outrage as it circulated widely on social media.