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Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, has denied claims suggesting that two Nigerians were killed during a wave of xenophobic violence and anti-migrant protests in the country.
Responding to Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s interview with the Ghanaian media, Lamola accused him of spreading misinformation and “factual inaccuracies”.
Ablakwa’s interview followed the repatriation of hundreds of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa, following recent violent anti-migrant and xenophobic attacks in the country.
There were reports that two Nigerians were killed during the unrest, but Lamola dismissed the claims. He also rejected assertions that 30 per cent of the repatriated Ghanaians were legal migrants.
“The first factual inaccuracy is that almost 30% of the Ghanaians that you have repatriated and that we’ve assisted you to repatriate were legal in South Africa. It is not true. And this has been communicated to the High Commissioner.
“Secondly, there are two Nigerian nationals that they had killed during a current wave of attacks against foreign nationals and the family of African descent in South Africa. We have verified with all our law enforcement agencies and all state authorities.
A deeply disappointing interview, replete with misinformation.
First, the claim that two Nigerians have been killed during the current wave of attacks remains entirely unsubstantiated by available information.
No Nigerian National
has been killed during the current waves of… https://t.co/mlkbMiJiAd pic.twitter.com/RxjJWB0OmL— Minister: International Relations and Cooperation (@RonaldLamola) June 6, 2026
“There was no Nigerian or there is no Nigerian national that has been killed during this current wave of attack. Third, that there are five Mozambican nationals that had been killed in South Africa during the current wave of attack. That is also devoid of truth. It’s not correct.”
According to the South African minister, two Mozambican nationals have been killed in the violence, and police are investigating their deaths. He added that the South African government has extended condolences to Mozambique and condemned the killings.
Lamola also dismissed claims that 16 Ghanaian nationals were hospitalised in South Africa, saying the information was unverified by both law enforcement agencies and health authorities.
“I’ve also verified with our officials responsible in dealing with the Ghana High Commissioner in South Africa whether they received a note about these injured Ghanaian nationals in our hospitals and they’ve also said they have not received any such note about [it],” he added.
“So this proves your line of communication of intending to engage with the South African government through social media, through interviews, that it is really not helping to restore what should be cordial working relations between the two countries.”
He also addressed Ghana’s intention to raise concerns over migration and anti-migrant attacks in South Africa at the African Union. Lamola said South Africa is open to engagement with Ghana and within the AU multilateral framework on issues relating to irregular migration and its underlying push and pull factors.
He said South Africa remains one of the countries receiving the highest number of irregular migrants on the continent.
“So we will need to share this responsibility and be ready to engage, my dear brother, in this debate as it moves. I hope you will find this message in order as it is the choice of communication and line of communication that we have chosen despite our repeated request that let’s have cordial diplomatic engagements,” he added.
