GOVERNMENT OF GHANA STATEMENT ON THE AFTERMATH OF THE RECENT XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS ON AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA FOLLOWING THE MEETING OF AFRICAN AMBASSADORS IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH THE MINISTER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION (DIRCO) OF SOUTH AFRICA AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

We have been informed by our Mission in South Africa that the meeting scheduled to take place this morning with the South African Minister for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the Minister for Home Affairs, the Minister for State Security and other Senior Government officials has ended. Prior to the meeting with the South African Senior Government officials, the African Ambassadors had met to come to a common position on the issues to be raised with the Representatives of the South African Government.

At the meeting the South African Ministers expressed their sadness and regret for the attacks that had taken place against African immigrants, and condemned the actions as criminal acts that would not be tolerated. They stated that these attacks went totally against their values, and everything they stood for and further had the potential to destroy the relationships that they had built with African states since the period after the end of apartheid. Further they recognized the contributions made by other African countries to support them in their fight against apartheid and that these sacrifices and contributions were not and could not be forgotten.

                   

For that reason they were committed to taking action against all the criminal elements that had engaged in these criminal acts and would have them brought to justice. They indicated that from their investigations 6 people had died and looting and vandalism of some of the shops of African immigrants had taken place. Further they were aware that those who had been attacked had sustained various degrees of injuries. They further stated that they had made 75 arrests so far in Durban alone and that all of the suspects would be prosecuted.

Regarding the measures taken to bring the situation under control they stated that President Jacob Zuma had set up an Inter-Agency Task Force to deal with the security situation and to make sure that law, order and calm was restored. Secondly they had also set up protected shelters for internally displaced persons and thirdly they had also set up a committee to assist in their re-integration into the communities where they previously resided.

The South African Senior Government officials also categorically stated that a number of the clips and images that were circulating on social media were not from incidents that had occurred in South Africa and certainly not over the last few weeks of attacks against African immigrants, they therefore requested that circumspection should be exercised in respect of the circulation of images in social media that were purported to be of victims of the violence that had occurred.

They also advised the Ambassadors not to rush to evacuate their citizens since they are likely to return to South Africa voluntarily as soon as calm is restored. They South African authorities added that should the need for evacuation arise they would provide assistance, however they were committed to restoring law, order and calm and as fellow Africans they should be assured of that should they wish to stay. They touched on the matter of illegal immigrants and said that it was important that Africans in South Africa should properly regularize their stay in the country.

We are informed that the Ambassadors on their part expressed their condemnation of the incidents that had taken place, and briefed the South African Officials on the reaction in their respective countries including the calls for demonstrations and boycott of South African goods and services among others. They requested for increased and extended police presence in the communities where incidences of violence had taken place, until law and order had been completely restored and calm had returned to those communities.

They further asked the South African Government to consider the payment of compensation in respect of those who had lost their lives, property and/or sustained injuries in the course of these attacks. The unanimous position at the meeting of Ambassadors was that the South African Government should take all immediate and necessary steps to protect African immigrants in South Africa and provide the necessary assurances for their safety.

Specifically in respect of Ghanaian citizens our mission in South Africa has informed us that they have been in touch with the leadership of the Ghanaian associations in South Africa in all the ten provinces of the country and no other incidences of death or injury of Ghanaians have been reported as at the time of writing this statement. Further our mission in South Africa has advised all Ghanaians to restrict their movements and until law and order and calm had been restored, further to the South African Governments assurances.

Government is closely and actively monitoring the situation. We shall implement the evacuation plan if it is advised by our mission in South Africa as the most appropriate course of action. The Ministry will keep the public informed of any further developments.

Hanna Tetteh (MP) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.