By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Ghana has begun a mass repatriation operation in Johannesburg as the first wave of nearly 800 citizens flees South Africa following weeks of volatile anti-immigrant demonstrations. Early Wednesday morning, a fleet of chartered buses and heavily guarded police vans arrived at O.R. Tambo International Airport, where terminal floors quickly filled with men, women, and children being urgently screened by diplomats. This initial flight of 300 evacuees marks the beginning of an organized evacuation effort coordinated by Accra, sparked by an escalating domestic immigration crisis that threatens to ignite a new wave of deadly xenophobic violence across South Africa.
The remaining registered citizens are currently being processed by embassy staff and will depart in subsequent phases. This organized evacuation highlights the profound anxiety gripping the migrant community, as thousands navigate a rapidly deteriorating security environment. Out of an estimated 25,000 Ghanaians currently living in South Africa, hundreds have already abandoned their livelihoods to seek safety back home.
Terror on the Ground
The operation follows a wave of protests against illegal immigration in South African cities in recent weeks, leading to fears there could be a resurgence in xenophobic violence in the country. The developments reflect broader tensions over migration in South Africa, a country that has long been both a destination for migrants from across Africa and a focal point for disputes over jobs and public services.
Few of the departing passengers wanted to speak to journalists. However, Rudolph, who has lived in South Africa for 10 years and runs a salon, told local media he was leaving because of the recent protests.
“It’s not comfortable for us to stay here anymore, so we have to go. I think we will find peace at home,” he said.
The Ultimatum
The demonstrations have been organized by a group called March and March, which describes itself as a citizen-led movement for immigration reform. The group has seen a rise in demonstrations targeting undocumented migrants, with protest groups arguing that illegal immigration is placing a strain on public services, employment opportunities, and local infrastructure. Demonstrators say illegal migrants are putting pressure on public services and have asked the South African government to do more to stop it.
The pressure group has set a June 30 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave the country. Rudolph worries that deadline could lead to violence.
“The protests started in Durban, and they’ve escalated to other provinces. So definitely something bad could happen,” he noted, adding that he would never return to South Africa.
Diplomatic Fallout
The escalating crisis has triggered a sharp diplomatic response across the continent. South Africa’s top envoy to Ghana was summoned over attacks on foreigners, while South Africa condemns “fake videos” of alleged xenophobic attacks circulating on social media.
Ghanaian High Commissioner Benjamin Quashie told the media he wanted to ensure the country’s citizens were safe.
“The Ghanaian government listened to the plight of its citizens in South Africa, who felt that their lives were in danger, who felt like the economic activity that they were engaging in had come to a standstill, who felt unwelcome in this country, and it is the responsibility of every government to ensure that its citizens are taken care of both home and abroad,” Quashie stated.
Reintegration and Reform
When asked what they were doing to ensure illegal migrants from Ghana did not come to South Africa, Quashie said they had a reintegration strategy in place for those returning.
“The government is willing to establish them into whatever business they were doing in South Africa. In a way, we’re also helping the South African economy, because it’s clear that some of them are undocumented,” Quashie said. “So taking them out of here will let them know that we are not people who condone undocumented people in countries.”
While acknowledging that some of those being repatriated are undocumented migrants, he added that a reintegration programme is being prepared to support returnees in resettling in Ghana.
Political Scapegoating and Historical Scars
Some analysts have suggested the resurgence of anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa could be linked to local elections scheduled for November. While the organizers of recent protests have said they have been peaceful, authorities have warned against criminal acts targeting foreigners and have urged restraint. Earlier this month, the South African government condemned criminal acts directed at foreigners, whilst conceding the country needed to deal with illegal immigration and acknowledging the challenge of managing irregular migration in a strained economic environment.
The current panic is deeply rooted in the country’s volatile history with migrant populations. South Africa has experienced repeated outbreaks of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals. In 2008, deadly attacks across several cities left at least 62 foreign nationals dead and forced tens of thousands of migrants to flee their homes. A similar wave of violence in 2019 killed at least 12 people and once again raised serious concern across the continent about the safety of migrants in the country.
Pretoria Defends Immigration Policy
The South African government continues to maintain that its enforcement measures are strictly non-discriminatory and focus entirely on the rule of law. State authorities have repeatedly emphasized that regularizing borders and managing irregular migration are standard sovereign responsibilities, rather than targeted campaigns against specific nationalities. Security officials argue that local public infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and job markets are under severe economic strain. While strictly condemning any criminal activities or vigilante violence directed against foreign nationals, the state maintains that international partners must recognize and respect South Africa’s domestic legislative right to pursue comprehensive immigration reform.
Targeted Attacks in KwaZulu-Natal
The decision by Accra to fund and execute this mass return operation comes amid reports of targeted harassment on the ground. More than 200 Ghanaian nationals in South Africa have already reported cases of intimidation, hostility, and the forced takeover of their businesses by local groups. The crisis has hit small business owners particularly hard within the KwaZulu-Natal province, where widespread protests demanding jobs for South Africans first fractured local security. In response to these targeted incidents, the Ghanaian embassy in Pretoria has issued continuous urgent security advisories, warning its remaining citizens to stay indoors and entirely avoid active protest hotspots.
Continental Pressures on Pan-African Unity
As the first planes arrive in West Africa, the unfolding crisis leaves both nations facing complex continental challenges. For Ghana, the immediate focus pivots to implementing its domestic reintegration framework, a program designed to absorb returnees into local markets without disrupting regional economies. Meanwhile, South African authorities remain caught in a delicate balancing act, attempting to pacify intense domestic pressure for immigration reform while safeguarding foreign nationals and maintaining essential diplomatic and economic ties across the African continent.
