Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has rejected social media reports alleging that Nigerian nationals were killed and several Ghanaians injured during recent anti-illegal immigration protests in South Africa.
Lamola described the claims as unverified and misleading, saying there is currently no evidence to support them.
The minister confirmed that law enforcement agencies are investigating the deaths of two Mozambican nationals reportedly linked to unrest in Mossel Bay.
He reiterated South Africa’s opposition to xenophobic violence and called for responsible reporting and the verification of information.
“I have verified with our law enforcement agencies. We don’t have any verified information, including in our hospitals, that there are such Ghanaian nationals. I have also verified with our officials responsible for liaising with the Ghanaian High Commissioner in South Africa, and they have confirmed that they have not received any such notification,” Lamola said.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that there is no place for xenophobia, racism, sexism, Afrophobia, or any other form of intolerance in South Africa.
Addressing the nation on Sunday evening on the government’s approach to managing illegal migration, Ramaphosa stressed that violence, intimidation, and the spread of misinformation cannot be tolerated.
He also expressed concern over incidents in which anti-foreigner sentiment has been accompanied by tribal and ethnic insults directed at fellow South Africans.
“We will act against forces that are exploiting the concerns of our people about illegal immigration to further their own political, personal, and criminal agendas. We will not be fooled or influenced by social media campaigns that spread misinformation, fake news, and lies about people,” Ramaphosa said.
The government has urged communities to address concerns about immigration through lawful channels and to reject all forms of violence and discrimination.
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Photo: @DIRCO_ZA/X
