Anti-xenophobic protests in South Africa: Malawi, Ghana, xenophobic attacks against South African citizens in Malawi, Ghana, other African countries

Malawi authorities say they are to deport 150 citizens from South Africa due to growing concerns about xenophobia.

The citizens, who left by bus on Saturday as part of a voluntary repatriation exercise, will arrive in Malawi on Monday, June 8, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said.

Repatriation efforts began recently following a Kasala explosion in South Africa's Western Cape province that left two Mozambicans dead in Mossel Bay and reports of door-to-door intimidation.

According to a statement from Lilongwe, “150 Malawians, among many foreign nationals, are seeking refuge in temporary camps” headed for Mossel Bay.

In late May, Ghana BIN organized a repatriation flight from Johannesburg for approximately 300 Indian nationals.

A group of about 680 headed to Accra, the capital of Ghana, over the weekend.

Of these, about 1000 Ghanaians have been evacuated by the government from South Africa.

Officials say they screen all returnees and register them at the Accra airport as part of a coordinated government process.

The Ghana Foreign Ministry says the funds are not flowing from the emergency budget allocation.

Democrats also called on local businesses to support reintegration efforts by providing employment opportunities to returning people.

The ministry says they are considering legal steps to seek compensation for citizens who have reportedly lost property or had their businesses destroyed during the recent unrest in South Africa.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the country's Foreign Minister, said, “We will ensure reintegration with dignity, medical and psychosocial assistance, pursue compensation for those who left behind property and businesses, secure jobs for those able to work and direct our efforts toward achieving Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's Pan-African dream of genuine African unification.”

However, on Saturday, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola Bin accused his Ghanaian counterpart of spreading misinformation about xenophobia to South Africa.

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Speaking for the interview, Ablakwa Bin told Joy News that I am proud of the solidarity shown by Ghanaians in support of their fellow citizens.

He also spoke about the number of foreigners who died following the attack on South Africa and reiterated earlier calls for the African Union (AU) to investigate what was happening.

In response, Lamola apparently stated that two Nigerians and five Mozambicans could be killed for separate acts of violence.

I am also clarifying that the Government has “no information” regarding Oga Ablakwa’s claim and that some Ghanaians are receiving treatment in a South African hospital after they were attacked.

Zimbabwe has been sent to the country to arrange transportation for Indian nationals worried over anti-immigration protests in South Africa as the nationals will disembark on Sunday.

The government says citizens will leave South Africa by road at the De Beit Bridge border crossing on Saturday.

He says the families being evacuated, including some with small children, are fleeing to the Western Cape for safety.

This came as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced new measures for De Contre to tackle illegal migration.

Nigeria's Tok-Tok for Foreign Affairs Pesin Kimibi Imomotimi Abienfa says they have been “rescheduled for Wednesday, June 10 due to unforeseen logistical considerations”.

Abiranfa said the plane was expected to arrive in Johannesburg on Monday evening with about 270 passengers on board, but was delayed as authorities finalized operational arrangements for the repatriation exercise.

More than 500 Nigerians have so far been screened and cleared to return as part of a sweeping government response to rising anti-immigrant tensions and unrest over the targeting of foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, officials say.

President Bola Tinubu has approved a total of five evacuation flights, adding that he has extended the screening and registration of affected citizens until Wednesday. Officials say that action against the applicants is still going on.

The ministry says they will announce more details on departure and arrival times for Lagos once they receive final approval.

Meanwhile, on Sunday South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Bin announced new measures to crack down on illegal migration as tensions mounted over anti-foreigner marches and frustration over high unemployment.

These steps include jailing employers who hire undocumented workers, setting up dedicated courts to expedite the deportation of undocumented immigrants, and requiring people to register with biometric data with the “EVRI Body for De Country” to prevent identity theft.

But he also warned South Africans not to take the law into their own hands.