South African anti-immigration activist fires Ghana over evacuation of citizens amid xenophobic tensions
Fresh controversy has erupted online after a South African anti-immigration activist leader identified as Jacintha Zuma criticised the Government of Ghana for evacuating its citizens from South Africa following rising xenophobic tensions and attacks targeting foreign nationals.
Speaking during a press conference, Zuma reportedly accused Ghana of “overreacting” by arranging emergency flights to evacuate Ghanaians who expressed fears over their safety amid growing hostility toward African migrants in parts of South Africa.
Her comments come shortly after the first batch of about 300 Ghanaian evacuees arrived safely in Accra following government’s intervention to assist citizens willing to return home due to the tensions.
The Mahama administration had earlier announced a support package for affected Ghanaians, including financial assistance, transportation support, psychosocial counselling and reintegration programmes to help returnees rebuild their lives after leaving South Africa.
The evacuation exercise followed reports of renewed xenophobic incidents, intimidation and threats against foreign African nationals living and working in South Africa, reviving painful memories of previous attacks that affected migrants from countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Mozambique.
Over the years, South Africa has witnessed recurring waves of xenophobic violence, often fuelled by economic hardship, unemployment, crime concerns and resentment toward migrants accused by some locals of taking jobs and business opportunities.
Several African governments, including Ghana, have previously evacuated citizens during earlier outbreaks of violence in South Africa.
However, Jacintha Zuma’s criticism of the.evacuation efforts has triggered strong reactions across social media, with many users defending the Ghanaian government’s actions and insisting that every responsible government has a duty to protect its citizens regardless of where they live abroad.
Many commentators questioned why efforts to safeguard the welfare of Ghanaian nationals should attract criticism, especially at a time when fears and insecurity among foreign nationals continue to grow in parts of South Africa.
Others argued that the evacuation exercise reflects government’s constitutional obligation to ensure the safety and dignity of its citizens during periods of crisis.
The latest development has once again drawn attention to longstanding tensions surrounding immigration and xenophobia in South Africa, where foreign nationals have frequently become targets during periods of social and economic frustration.
Despite repeated condemnations by African leaders and human rights organisations, attacks against migrants have continued to surface periodically over the years, straining diplomatic relations between South Africa and several African countries.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian authorities have indicated that they remain committed to supporting affected citizens and monitoring the situation closely as evacuation and reintegration efforts continue.
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