Hostility towards immigrants in South Africa is driving hundreds of Ghanaians to return voluntarily.

With increased escalation and growing tensions In connection with the immigration issue in South Africa, authorities have begun returning hundreds of Ghanaian citizens to their country, following a wave of anti-foreigner protests and growing security concerns.

Around 300 Ghanaian citizens, including women and children, lined up at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg early Wednesday morning, ready to leave the country in what authorities described as a “voluntary return” operation, after expressing their feeling of insecurity under the current circumstances.

800 Ghanaians have expressed their desire to leave

South African authorities are working in coordination with their Ghanaian counterparts to prepare a list of about 800 people who have expressed a desire to leave, as part of efforts to contain the repercussions of the crisis.

10 people residing legally

In media statements, an official from the South African Immigration Authority revealed that the vast majority of those leaving do not have legal status, noting that only 10 out of the 300 people reside legally, reflecting the scale of the challenges associated with the issue of irregular migration.

Widespread protests and violence in South Africa against migrants

These developments came in the wake of widespread protests in the country in recent weeks, during which activists demanded stricter control over illegal immigrants, accusing them of contributing to rising crime and unemployment rates.

The protests were marred by violence targeting migrants from sub-Saharan African countries, further heightening anxiety among foreign communities.

One of the Ghanaian citizens, before leaving, confirmed that the decision to return came as a result of the ongoing harassment, saying: “It is not easy to live in another country amidst this much violence.”.

For their part, human rights organizations warned of escalating hate speech against immigrants, noting that they are being blamed for economic crises, especially with the unemployment rate in South Africa exceeding 30%, and its greater impact on black citizens.

Diplomatic coordination to contain the crisis

In a related context, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Kwashi, explained that the repatriation operations come within the framework of joint coordination between the two countries to ease tensions, stressing that there is no diplomatic dispute.

He pointed out that the cooperation aims to reinstate those without legal documents, while maintaining the normal functioning of institutions.

For its part, the South African authorities condemned the acts of violence against foreigners, affirming their commitment to addressing all forms of aggression, and stressing that these practices are inconsistent with the principles of constitutional democracy in the country.

The crisis remains likely to escalate, given the continued economic pressures and the rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, which presents the government with complex security and humanitarian challenges.