Ghana has formally requested the presence of South Africa’s highest diplomatic representative after South African authorities allegedly threatened and mistreated Ghanaian citizens and other African migrants.

The government took this diplomatic action because online video clips of South African vigilante groups showed them attacking people they believed to be undocumented immigrants.

Diplomatic Tensions Rise Over Vigilante Violence

The video shows a hostile group who challenged a Ghanaian manabout his immigration status. The mob doubted the validity of his documentswhich he presented as genuine identification. The mob aggressively ordered him to leave and “fix your country.”

Ghanaian officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration confirmed that the man holds legal residency status. The organizations have met with him to provide assistance while they continue to advise all Ghanian citizens abroad to follow local laws and show respect for the customs of their host countries.

Ghanaian officials submitted their formal protest against recent xenophobic events to South Africa through its acting high commissioner Thando Dalamba. The ministry reported that vigilante activities damage both the dignity and the rights which legal migrants possess.

Other African nations are also on high alert. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission advised its citizens residing in South Africa to exercise strict caution. The agency reported that the anti-foreigner protests which occurred in Cape Town Durban and East London had quickly turned violent and resulted in looting and injuries and property destruction.

South Africa Responds to Anti-Migrant Unrest

The strong and persistent problem of xenophobia in South Africa has resulted in violent conflicts which cause fatalities. The vigilante group Operation Dudula together with the March on March demonstration use migrants as their main target for blaming the country most serious social issues which include unemployment and drug addiction.

The anti-migrant organizations organized their latest demonstration in the port city of Durban. The demonstrators attacked a man whom they suspected to be an undocumented foreigner while video recordings captured their violent actions.

Statistics South Africa reports that 2.4 million migrants legally reside in the country which represents approximately 4 percent of the entire population. The actual number of undocumented migrants exceeds the estimated count because most unauthorized immigrants enter from nearby countries which include Lesotho and Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation will conduct a complete investigation into the rising diplomatic crisis, which requires thorough investigation. Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola personally expressed his empathy for the victims to his Ghanaian counterpart.

Firoz Cachalia, who serves as acting Police Minister, delivered a statement on behalf of the South African Police Service to denounce the vigilante attacks. He informed the public that no person or organization possesses the power to enforce justice through illegal means because they face social unrest.