Ghanaians living in South Africa claim they are being attacked and beaten mercilessly by South African nationals in the wake of the xenophobic attack that has once again reared its ugly head in that country.
According to them, their lives are in real danger as some Ghanaians in Sunnyside, have been hospitalized after being pounded.
The situation is in sharp contrast with the assertions by the Government of Ghana.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on Friday 24th Feb. told Parliament that no Ghanaian has yet been affected in the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
“Our checks in the country indicated that no Ghanaian national or their businesses have been affected in the recent attacks. Our embassy in Pretoria and the foreign ministry will continue to monitor the situation and update the country appropriately,” she said.
Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey however urged Ghanaians in South Africa to stay indoors in order to ensure their safety.
But speaking to Kasapa News Friday evening, Ghanaians in South Africa called for government’s intervention immediately to save their lives since the situation is not under control as the Foreign Affairs Minister claims.
“She [Foreign Affairs Minister] is sitting in Ghana, and I’m here in South Africa telling you what is happening to us. Our fellow Ghanaians in Mamelodi have been beaten, we’ve been to the hospital to visit them,” Richard said.
Another Ghanaian lady said: “I went out hurriedly to buy food stuffs two days ago. I was beaten and nearly killed, my family and I are now sought refuge in the house of a Ghanaian woman I first settled with when I came to South Africa, we’re all indoors. Our fellow Ghanaians in Sunnyside are in trouble…they are being beaten. Just this evening we’ve been told that one of our Ghanaian brothers has been beaten with wooden planks while he was out to buy food, so the family we’ve sought refuge has just driven to go and ascertain his condition. So it is not true that no Ghanaian has been attacked as put out by the government in Ghana.”
Earlier this month, South Africans accusing foreigners of bringing drugs and prostitution to their neighborhood torched the homes of African migrants. They also accused the foreigners of taking over their jobs.
Johannesburg’s mayor accompanied police on a subsequent raid of the area, apparently making good on an election promise to rid the city of crime and people who are here “illegally.”
That sentiment spread to Pretoria, where foreign-owned shops were looted overnight on Feb. 20. Now, a group of “concerned” South African citizens are reportedly planning a march on Feb. 24 with xenophobic undertones that have alarmed the African Diaspora Forum.
“We write to you so that when South Africa experiences a repeat of the 2008 xenophobic violence which left at least 62 people dead, you will not be surprised,” the forum said in a letter, urging South Africa’s president to act.
The 2008 wave of attacks left thousands displaced, 342 immigrant-owned shops looted and 213 burned down. The violence and hate was captured with the image of a Mozambican man burned alive.
Source: kasapafmonline.com
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Yaw mANU is empty skull. Potholes head of yAW mANU. Stsupid.
WHY ARE YOU GUYS STILL BENT ON STAYING THERE? IS GHANA NOT SAFE ENOUGH FOR YOU? WHY TAKE CHANCES WITH YOUR LIVES, AFTER ALL GHANA IS HABITABLE AND PEOPLE MOVE ABOUT IN FREEDOM!!
@PILOLO,KK and YAW MANU. You people are NOT polite at all. We all know you live in uncomleted buildings, I know pilolo is not Ghanaian, give way to PEOPLE.
lf akuffo addo was not able to save the lives of 44 ghanaians in gambia as a foreign minister what a hell can he do at this time. the only positive news is that more diplomatic passports will be missing this time. family and friends will be the beneficiaries. at this time there should be no complaign only jj can advice his mole. we are watching. am roger feli's distance family
You guys should come home if you are being beaten and stop disturbing our peace
The Passport Office better sit up and stop issuing Ghanaian passport to Nigerians.Alot of Asian countries like Laos,Vietnam,Thailand that were once friendly towards Ghanaians are now hostile and have tighten immigration laws because of the nefarious activities being committed by these people with Ghanaian passport.just Monday Vietnam police invaded alot of Hanoi hostels looking for a Ghanaian bcuz he had duped some Vietnamese of large sum of money in a scam in ho chin Minh and ran away to hide in Hanoi.When did Ghanaians start using the name Chigoze? The stigma of being black is already worse coupled with the recent surge in fraud crimes committed by particular blacks yet bcuz we are all blacks they generalise. The Foreign Affairs Ministry better sit up and do something.
Anyone who has lived in Sunnyside knows that majority of Nigerians are selling drugs and conniving with the their corrupt police to do that.They front their activities with boutiques and other businesses and do their own things dragging the lazy SA women into their dealings.The SAs themselves know this fact but because their anger is misplaced they blame every national as part of the nuisance.Most Ghanaians in Gauteng are shoemakers,barbers and hairdressers and fearos but bcuz we all from west Africans they conclude and say we are neighbours so involved in the acts together
I remember when Ghanaians were killed in Gambia under Addo's watch as foreign affairs minister. These people are so incompetent. There were xenophobic attacks in SA when JM was president but Ghanaians were well protected.
The Foreign Affairs Minister is not in South Africa. She spoke based on the briefing she received from our mission in South Africa. If the mission has not received complaints from Ghanaians in South Africa about attacks on them, the mission cannot report that Ghanaians are being attacked. There are many Ghanaians living in foreign countries that do not report themselves to our missions abroad; of course the attitude of some of our foreign mission staff makes it a waste of time to seek their help, even for legal residents.
this s.t.o.o.p.ed woman is so incompetent. what was she saying? she is just ***barred word***