A Ghanaian man has been shot dead in South Africa amid violent protests targeting foreign nationals, the Ghana High Commission in South Africa has confirmed. The victim, reported to be a tailor who had lived in the country for about 20 years, was said to have been shot in his shop in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The Ghana High Commission says arrangements are underway to repatriate the body to Ghana to enable burial and other necessary family rites.
The demonstrations were organised around a self-declared “30 June deadline” set by the civic group March and March, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, which had called for undocumented foreigners to leave the country. The group’s protests spread nationwide and have been linked to violent actions against foreign nationals. South African authorities deployed a large security operation ahead of the deadline. President Cyril Ramaphosa had welcomed assurances that the marches would remain peaceful, while warning that violence “would not be justified under any circumstances.”
More than 900 Ghanaians have been evacuated from South Africa, with additional repatriation flights expected as more citizens seek to return home. The Ghana High Commission has urged Ghanaians remaining in the country to stay vigilant, avoid areas where protests are taking place, and keep in regular contact with the mission.
South African authorities have not confirmed the circumstances of the shooting or announced any arrests, and have not officially established whether it was directly linked to the protests. Ghanaian authorities say they will continue to monitor the situation and engage South African officials to safeguard the lives and welfare of Ghanaians, as investigations continue.