Tense diplomatic spat as Ghana protests death of migrant in South Africa
The Ghanaian government has lodged a formal protest after reports claim that Bashiru Isak, a 40‑year‑old Ghanaian tailor who had lived in South Africa for two decades, was shot dead in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township during anti‑immigrant protests. The ministry said it was shocked and demanded a prompt investigation and the return of his body for burial in Ghana.
South Africa’s justice minister responded firmly, describing the allegations as “fabricated” and accusing Ghanaian authorities of spreading false information. Police confirmed they had no record of the Khayelitsha incident but were investigating a separate shooting of Ghanaian Kwabena Boagen in Nyanga township, where the suspect was linked to an extortion‑related crime.
The unrest is part of a broader anti‑immigrant campaign that has forced an estimated 25,000 foreign nationals from Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria to leave South Africa ahead of a declared deadline for undocumented migrants to exit the country. On the day of protests, authorities arrested about 900 people, mainly for immigration offences and looting, reporting that the demonstrations were largely peaceful.
Ghana’s foreign ministry called for South Africa to uphold its international obligations “to guarantee the safety, dignity and rights of all foreign nationals on its territory.” The ministry urged organisers of the protests to stop targeting immigrants and emphasized that the killing of Zen—a name given to the victim—must be investigated transparently.
With South Africa’s unemployment rate above 30 % and migration pressures mounting, the incident highlights the urgent need for leaders to address racism and protect vulnerable communities, lest diplomatic relations sour further.
