South Africa considering compensation for affected Ghanaian affected by xenophic attacks - Minister

South Africa is considering compensation for Ghanaians who lost businesses and property during the recent anti-migrant violence, the country's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has said.

According to him, discussions on the matter were ongoing, although no formal decision has been taken yet by the South African government.

Speaking in a radio interview with Accra-based Joy FM monitored by Graphic Online on Wednesday [June 10, 2026], Mr Lamola said each case would be assessed before any official policy announcement could be made.

"I can't make a policy pronouncement that has not yet been confirmed," he said.

"But it will, definitely, with this process that we are undergoing, it will be one of the issues that we will pronounce on," he added.

His comment followed Ghana's call for full compensation for citizens affected by the violence.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had said Ghana was going to push for affected nationals to be compensated for losses suffered during the attacks.

According to Mr Ablakwa, legal processes are being prepared to support claims by victims who lost businesses, homes and other property.

He said returnees would be required to provide documentation and details of their assets to support any compensation claims.

Mr Ablakwa had said South African authorities had expressed readiness to cover the medical expenses of Ghanaians who were hospitalised during the unrest.

He said the government was yet to take a final decision on the offer pending consultations with President John Dramani Mahama.

On his part, Mr Lamola in the Joy FM maintained that the property rights of Ghanaians and other foreign nationals who legally owned businesses and assets in South Africa remained protected under the country's laws.

He urged affected persons to channel their concerns through the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria.

"Anyone who has got an asset or property, their property is still protected by law in South Africa," he said.

"If it has to be transferred or sold, the amount must still come to them."

The South African minister also revealed that about 74 per cent of Ghanaians in the first group repatriated to Ghana had overstayed their visas and had been declared undesirable persons under South African immigration laws.

He said this would be one of the factors taken into account in assessing individual cases.

On deportations, Mr Lamola said about 500,000 migrants had been removed from South Africa since 2023, including about 50,000 in the first quarter of 2026.

Official figures from South Africa's Department of Home Affairs indicate that more than 600,000 migrants have been deported since 2023, while inland deportations had reached 109,344 as of March 31, 2026.

Mr Lamola condemned reports of migrants being removed from schools and hospitals by groups claiming to enforce immigration laws.

"That is wrong," he said, adding that a South African court had already ruled against such actions.

"Only law enforcement must deal with the enforcement of immigration laws. That should not be handled by any private individuals."

He also dismissed reports circulating on social media that 15 Ghanaians had been hospitalised during the recent unrest and disputed claims that two Nigerians had been killed.

Mr Lamola said two Mozambicans had died during the disturbances and described the deaths as regrettable.

Ghana completed its evacuation exercise on June 7, 2026, when the third and final batch of 342 evacuees arrived at the Kotoka International Airport.

In all, nearly 1,000 Ghanaians were repatriated from South Africa.

Mr Lamola acknowledged that the crisis had placed strain on relations between Ghana and South Africa but expressed confidence that the two countries would overcome the challenge.

"These two countries have got good relations," he said.

"From our perspective, we can work on this, we can resolve it, and we can strengthen our relations with our sister countries."

He added that Ghanaians living abroad continued to make an important contribution to the country's economy, noting that remittances to Ghana reached nearly $7.8 billion in 2025, according to the Bank of Ghana.