Cape Town – The South African government has rejected claims by the Ghanaian government that a Ghanaian national was killed during the anti-immigration demonstrations on 30 June.
Instead, South African authorities said the victim was shot a day earlier in what police believe was an extortion-related attack in the Western Cape.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the killing of 40-year-old Ghanaian national Bashiru Isak in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, described the killing as a senseless act of violence and expressed concern over what he said was a growing wave of xenophobia targeting African nationals, including Ghanaians, in South Africa.
Government of Ghana’s prompt interventions following the killing of a Ghanaian in South Africa during the June 30 violent demonstrations.
We convey deepest condolences to the family of Bashiru Isak.
The pursuit of justice shall be non-negotiable. pic.twitter.com/qHCZ8V3ns8
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) July 1, 2026
“The taking of any life is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice without delay,” he said.
However, according to IOL, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, said the claims made by the Ghanaian government were “not based on fact”.
“According to a statement by the Ghanaian authorities, issued on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, a Ghanaian national was fatally wounded in a shooting that occurred ‘on Monday, 30 June 2026, during anti-immigrant demonstrations linked to ongoing xenophobic attacks’,” Kubayi said.
“In addition to being factually incorrect, because the irregular migration protests took place on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, this statement is not based on fact.”
Kubayi said police investigations indicate that the victim was attacked at his workplace in Nyanga, Cape Town, on Monday, 29 June, a day before the nationwide demonstrations.
“The Ghanaian national who was fatally wounded was attacked at his place of work on Monday, 29 June 2026, in an incident that the police suspect was a criminal act, which is totally not linked to the alleged demonstrations,” she said.
The report further confirmed that according to information provided by the Western Cape police, unknown suspects entered a barbershop in Emms Drive, Nyanga, allegedly demanded money from the victim and shot him before fleeing the scene.
Police believe the attack was linked to extortion.
“The motive for the attack is believed to be extortion-related,” the police said.
No arrests have been made and police have appealed to the public for information that could assist in locating the suspects.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: X/ Mmamoloko Nkhensani Kubayi
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
