By Charmaine Ndlela
South Africa has slammed Ghana’s claim that one of its citizens was killed during anti-illegal migrant demonstrations on Tuesday, saying the man was murdered a day earlier in a suspected extortion-related attack that police do not believe was linked to the protests.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, said on Thursday that she was concerned by statements issued by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ghana had said Bashiru Isak, 40, was fatally shot in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on Tuesday, during the protests.
But Kubayi said the Ghanaian statement was not based on fact.
“The Ghanian national who was fatally wounded was attacked at his place of work on Monday, 29 June 2026, in an incident that the police suspect as a criminal act, which is totally not linked to the alleged demonstrations,” the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration said.
According to the South African government, Western Cape police records show that the murder happened in Nyanga on Monday afternoon before the demonstrations took place.
The formal statement from Western Cape police said: “Nyanga police registered a murder case for investigation following a shooting incident on Monday afternoon, 29 June 2026, in Emms Drive, Nyanga, where a 35-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded.
“Police members attended to the crime scene where they found the victim with gunshot wounds to his body. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. According to reports unknown suspects entered the barbershop and demanded money from the victim before he was shot. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. The motive for the attack is believed to be extortion related.”
Kubayi said no fatalities had been recorded during the anti-migrant demonstrations on Tuesday, although law enforcement agencies had responded to isolated incidents of criminality.
“It is concerning that Ghanian authorities continue to communicate false information about South Africa regarding developments on irregular migration.
“The fact of the matter is that no fatalities have been recorded during the day of these demonstrations and isolated incidents of criminality that occured on the day have been acted upon by the law enforcement authorities,” she said.
Kubayi urged Ghana and other African countries to raise diplomatic concerns through established channels.
“We regret all loss of life on our shores and we would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and assure them that our law enforcement authorities will investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to book,” she said.
She said the spread of false information to promote what she called a false narrative that South Africa was xenophobic was unacceptable.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier demanded a full, transparent and expedited investigation into the killing, calling for those responsible to be arrested and prosecuted.
“The Government of Ghana condemns, in the strongest terms, this senseless act of violence and the rising tide of xenophobia targeting African nationals, including Ghanaians, in South Africa. The taking of any life is unacceptable, and those responsible must be brought to justice without delay,” the Ghanaian statement read.
According to Ghana’s Foreign Ministry, the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria had formally lodged a protest with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation and filed a complaint with the South African Police Service after confirming the victim’s identity and notifying his family.
The ministry said an autopsy had been conducted at the request of the Ghanaian government, with arrangements under way to repatriate Isak’s remains to Ghana for burial.
Ghana also said it expected South Africa, in line with its international obligations, to guarantee the safety, dignity and rights of all foreign nationals living within its borders.
The Ghanaian government said it had already submitted a petition to the African Union Commission over xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa and hoped the matter would receive urgent attention at the AU’s next statutory meeting.
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said on X that the pursuit of justice would be non-negotiable.
“We convey deepest condolences to the family of Bashiru Isak. The pursuit of justice shall be non-negotiable,” Ablakwa said.
Ghana’s Foreign Ministry also urged Ghanaians who remained in South Africa after declining an earlier government repatriation exercise to remain vigilant, avoid high-risk areas and contact the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria in an emergency.
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