South Africa has rejected claims by Ghana that a Ghanaian national was killed during anti-immigration protests on June 30. Authorities say the death occurred a day earlier in a suspected extortion-related shooting in Nyanga, Cape Town.
The dispute follows a statement from Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which linked the killing to what it described as a rise in xenophobic attacks. South African officials insist the claim is inaccurate and not supported by police findings.
SA Disputes Ghana Xenophobic Killing Claim
The South African government says the Ghana xenophobic killing claim South Africa is based on incorrect information. According to Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, the incident cited by Ghana did not occur during the June 30 protests.
Kubayi said the victim, identified as Bashiru Isak, was shot on June 29 at his workplace in Nyanga. Police reports indicate that unknown suspects entered a barbershop on Emms Drive, demanded money, and then shot him before fleeing.
“The Ghanaian national who was fatally wounded was attacked at his place of work on Monday, 29 June 2026,” Kubayi said, adding that the incident was “totally not linked” to the demonstrations.
Western Cape police believe the motive was extortion-related. No arrests have been made, and authorities have appealed for information from the public.
Timeline Contradicts Protest-Related Claims
Officials stressed that the Ghana xenophobic killing claim South Africa does not align with verified timelines. The nationwide protests against irregular migration took place on June 30, a day after the fatal shooting.
Kubayi noted that Ghana’s statement incorrectly placed the killing on the same day as the demonstrations. She said this discrepancy undermines claims that the death was linked to xenophobic violence.
“The fact of the matter is that no fatalities have been recorded during the day of these demonstrations,” Kubayi said. According to authorities, law enforcement responded to isolated incidents of criminality on the day, but none resulted in deaths.
The South African government has also raised concerns about what it describes as repeated misinformation from Ghana regarding migration-related developments.
Responses And Diplomatic Tensions
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier condemned the killing, calling for a “full, transparent and expedited investigation” and stronger protection for its nationals. It described the incident as part of a “rising tide of xenophobia targeting African nationals,” according to the IOL report.
In response, South African officials rejected the characterisation and reiterated that the case is being investigated as a criminal matter unrelated to protests. Kubayi said the Ghana xenophobic killing claim South Africa reflects “false information” about events in the country.
As of July 2, no further official response from Ghana had been reported. Police investigations into the shooting remain ongoing.