The Government of Ghana has strongly condemned the killing of one of its citizens, 40-year-old fashion designer, Mr. Bashiru Isak, who was allegedly shot dead during anti-immigrant violence in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, describing the incident as a brutal manifestation of the growing scourge of xenophobia in South Africa.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, authorities said they received news of Isak’s death with “profound shock and sadness,” revealing that the father of three was killed on Monday, June 30, amid demonstrations linked to renewed attacks against foreign nationals.
The Ghanaian government condemned what it called the rising tide of hostility against African migrants and insisted that those responsible for the killing must be identified, apprehended and prosecuted without delay.
“The Government of Ghana condemns, in the strongest terms, this senseless act of violence and the rising tide of xenophobia targeting African nationals, including Ghanaians, in South Africa,” the ministry declared.
“The taking of any life is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice without delay.”
The incident has since escalated into a diplomatic issue, with Ghana formally pressing the African Union to intervene over repeated xenophobic attacks against African citizens living in South Africa.
According to the ministry, Ghana’s longstanding petition to the African Union Commission on anti-migrant violence remains active, and Accra expects the continental body to treat the matter as an urgent threat to Pan-African unity during its next statutory meeting.
“Our formal petition on xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa remains active and we expect the African Union to treat the matter with the urgency it demands,” the statement added.
Acting on directives from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has formally lodged Ghana’s protest with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation and filed an official complaint with the South African Police Service after confirming Isak’s identity and informing his family.
The government further disclosed that an autopsy had already been conducted on the deceased at Ghana’s request as arrangements commence for the repatriation of his remains for burial in his homeland.
Ghana has also demanded a full, transparent and expedited investigation into the killing, urging South African authorities to guarantee the safety and protection of Ghanaian nationals and other foreign residents living in communities affected by anti-immigrant unrest.
The ministry maintained that South Africa bears a legal and moral obligation under international conventions to uphold the rights, dignity and security of all foreign nationals residing within its borders.
Meanwhile, Ghana extended its condolences to Isak’s family and assured them that every available diplomatic and consular mechanism was being deployed to secure justice for their slain relative.
Authorities also advised Ghanaians still residing in South Africa, especially those who declined earlier voluntary repatriation programmes organised by the government, to exercise extreme caution, avoid volatile locations and immediately contact the Ghana High Commission through emergency channels whenever they feel threatened.
Reports by Ghanaian broadcaster Joy News revealed that Isak had lived in South Africa for approximately two decades, where he established himself as a successful fashion designer. He was reportedly legally resident in the country, married and the father of three children.
Eyewitnesses quoted by the broadcaster alleged that a group of anti-immigrant attackers stormed his tailoring shop, accusing him of taking employment opportunities meant for South Africans while repeatedly calling him “kwerekwere,” a derogatory slur commonly directed at African migrants.
The assailants allegedly shot him at close range in what witnesses described as an execution-style killing before fleeing the scene, leaving behind a tragedy that has reignited anger across the continent.
The killing has once again exposed the lingering wounds of xenophobic violence in South Africa, where migrants from several African countries have repeatedly come under attack during anti-immigrant demonstrations over the past two decades, raising troubling questions about African solidarity and the future of Pan-African integration.
For many observers, the death of Bashiru Isak represents more than a personal tragedy; it is a painful reminder that, in parts of Africa, Africans themselves continue to face persecution, hostility and even death at the hands of fellow Africans.