South Africa’s Lamola Fires Back at Ghana Over Xenophobia Claims, Calling Them “Misinformation”

South Africa’s Lamola Fires Back at Ghana Over Xenophobia Claims, Calling Them “Misinformation”

South Africa’s International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has sharply rejected allegations made by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa about anti-immigrant violence in South Africa, accusing him of spreading misinformation and undermining diplomatic norms.

What Did Ghana Claim?

In an interview with Ghanaian broadcaster Joy Media, Ablakwa alleged that five Mozambicans and two Nigerians had been killed in xenophobic attacks in South Africa. He also claimed at least 15 Ghanaians had been seriously injured, with one woman still in critical condition.

The remarks sparked an immediate and forceful response from Pretoria.

Lamola’s Point-by-Point Rebuttal

Lamola described Ablakwa’s interview as “deeply disappointing and replete with misinformation.” He challenged each claim directly, backed by South African official records.

The Documentation Dispute

Tensions between the two countries escalated as Ghana evacuated around 1,000 of its citizens from South Africa. A second repatriation flight landed at Accra International Airport on Saturday, June 6, 2026, carrying 345 Ghanaian nationals.

Ablakwa insisted most departing Ghanaians were legal residents. But South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority (BMA) told a different story: roughly 90% of the first group of 300 repatriated Ghanaians were completely undocumented, with most having overstayed their visas by more than 30 days — some by over a year.

A Diplomatic Warning

Lamola criticised Ablakwa’s use of social media and press interviews to engage with South Africa, warning that such “public spectacles, characterised by incomplete information and outright misinformation,” would no longer be tolerated.

He also issued a direct legal warning: “We will vigorously defend any frivolous or baseless lawsuit emanating from Ghana against South Africa.”

In a pointed dig, Lamola suggested Ghana examine its own record on migrant treatment and economic protectionism before criticising Pretoria.

South Africa Reaffirms Commitment to Regional Unity

Despite the sharp exchange, Lamola stressed that South Africa remains committed to African regional integration. He said Pretoria is open to addressing migration’s root causes through bilateral talks or the African Union — but only with accurate information and proper diplomatic conduct.

The South African government reiterated that violence against migrants violates the country’s constitutional order, and that it remains committed to a democracy free from discrimination based on nationality.