Ghanaians have been repatriated from South Africa following protests against immigrants
Ghanaian nationals lined up at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport early on Wednesday to catch one of the first flights back home following a surge of anti-immigrant protests in South Africa that raised safety concerns.
The group of 300 individuals comprised women and children, participating in what authorities characterized as a voluntary repatriation process for Ghanaian citizens expressing concerns about their safety.
South African authorities have collaborated with their Ghanaian counterparts on a list of approximately 800 individuals who have expressed a desire to depart.
A South African immigration official, who remained unnamed on screen, informed local television station eNCA, “What we discovered is that out of the 300, only 10 of them are legal in the country, indicating that a significant number are not in compliance with our immigration act.
The repatriation occurred after a surge of anti-immigration protests in recent weeks, where campaigners called for stricter controls on what they referred to as undocumented migrants, while alleging that foreigners were contributing to crime and unemployment.
Migrants from various sub-Saharan African nations have faced violence during the protests.
One Ghanaian preparing to leave expressed that ongoing harassment had influenced his decision. “I’m happy that I’m going to my country … it’s difficult to be in someone else’s country and be disturbed all the time,” he stated, choosing to remain anonymous.
Migrant rights groups assert that they are being unfairly blamed by South Africans for the nation’s economic issues, particularly the high unemployment rate, which exceeds 30% and disproportionately impacts the Black population.
Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, stated that the departures were intended to alleviate tensions while maintaining robust diplomatic relations between the two nations. “The demonstrators have expressed their desire for us to collaborate. “We must ensure that those who are undocumented are returned home and that institutions are allowed to function,” Quashie stated, refuting any speculation of a diplomatic rift with South Africa.
South African authorities have denounced violence against foreign nationals and committed to addressing xenophobic attacks, asserting that such actions are incompatible with the principles of the country’s constitutional democracy.
