Portia Nana Akua Pinamang Raises Alarm Over Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa

Ghanaian writer Portia Nana Akua Pinamang has strongly condemned the latest wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, questioning why Africans continue to lose their lives in a country that once benefited from the solidarity of the entire continent.

In a post published on her Facebook page, Portia Nana Akua Pinamang expressed concern over reports of violence against African and Asian foreign nationals in South Africa, describing the situation as a recurring tragedy that demands urgent action from both the South African government and the African Union.

Portia Nana Akua Pinamang began her commentary by recalling the death of South African reggae legend Lucky Dube, who was shot and killed in 2007 after reportedly being mistaken for a Nigerian national.

"He was South African. He died because xenophobia does not ask questions. It does not verify. It sees a face, makes an assumption and acts on hatred," Portia Nana Akua Pinamang wrote.

According to Portia Nana Akua Pinamang, the circumstances surrounding Lucky Dube's death should have served as a warning about the dangers of xenophobia. However, she argued that South Africa appears to be repeating the same mistakes nearly two decades later.

Referencing reports of attacks that occurred in April and May 2026, Portia Nana Akua Pinamang noted that foreign nationals were allegedly targeted by vigilante groups in several South African cities, including Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban. She further highlighted reports of deaths involving Nigerian nationals and allegations that some security personnel may have been involved in abuses against migrants.

"The pattern is old. The pain is fresh. And the silence from those in power is deafening," Portia Nana Akua Pinamang stated.

Portia Nana Akua Pinamang also praised the Government of Ghana for evacuating its citizens from South Africa amid growing concerns over their safety. She defended the decision against criticism from those who believed Ghana should have waited longer before taking action.

"The moment the South African government failed to act decisively, Ghana had every right and every obligation to step in. That is not aggression. That is governance. That is what it means to have a country that sees you," Portia Nana Akua Pinamang wrote.

The writer further welcomed Ghana's decision to petition the African Union to formally review the situation, describing the move as necessary for the protection of African citizens and the preservation of continental unity.

Addressing what she described as a recurring cycle of violence, Portia Nana Akua Pinamang argued that repeated condemnations by South African authorities have not translated into meaningful accountability.

"Since 2008, South Africa has been grappling with intermittent but widespread xenophobic harassment and violence. That is not a series of isolated incidents. That is a pattern. And a pattern that repeats without consequence is a pattern that has been permitted," Portia Nana Akua Pinamang said.

Portia Nana Akua Pinamang also reminded readers of the role African nations played during South Africa's struggle against apartheid, noting that countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Nigeria provided support to liberation movements during that period.

"The liberation of South Africa was not a solo project. It was a continental act of solidarity," Portia Nana Akua Pinamang wrote, adding that the treatment of African migrants today represents "an insult" and "a betrayal of history."

Warning about the broader dangers of xenophobia, Portia Nana Akua Pinamang argued that hatred eventually turns against everyone, including the citizens it claims to protect.

"When hatred becomes this indiscriminate, it has stopped being about immigration. It has become something far more dangerous a culture of violence that will eventually consume the very people it claims to protect," Portia Nana Akua Pinamang stated.

Portia Nana Akua Pinamang concluded by calling on African leaders to address the issue at the African Union level and to take concrete measures to protect citizens living and working across the continent.

"We are one people. Let us begin to act like it," Portia Nana Akua Pinamang wrote.

Her comments have added to growing calls for stronger action against xenophobic violence and renewed discussions about the future of African unity, integration and the protection of migrants across the continent.