South Africa has dismissed claims by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs linking the killing of a Ghanaian national to ongoing anti-immigrant protests, insisting the incident was an isolated criminal act unrelated to demonstrations.
In a statement issued by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, who also chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, South African authorities said the Ghanaian account of the incident was “factually incorrect” and urged caution in the communication of sensitive cross-border issues.
Police in the Western Cape confirmed that a murder case had been opened following the shooting in Nyanga on Monday, 29 June 2026. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), unknown suspects allegedly entered a barbershop, demanded money from the victim, and shot him during what is believed to be an extortion-related attack.
SAPS said the victim, a 35-year-old man, was declared dead at the scene after sustaining gunshot wounds. The suspects fled and remain at large, while investigations are ongoing. Authorities have appealed to members of the public with information to assist in the investigation.
The South African government maintained that no fatalities were recorded during the recent anti-immigrant demonstrations and reiterated that isolated criminal incidents were not linked to the protests. Minister Kubayi further urged that diplomatic concerns between African states be communicated through established channels, warning against what she described as “false narratives” suggesting xenophobic motives.
Earlier, the Government of Ghana condemned the killing of its national, aged 40-years in Capetown and called for a swift, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ghana’s through the High Commission in Pretoria has formally lodged a diplomatic protest with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and submitted an official complaint to the South African Police Service (SAPS), urging authorities to ensure justice for the deceased and uphold the rights and safety of foreign nationals in South Africa.
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