Migration challenges will not strain Ghana-South Africa relations — Ronald Lamola

South Africa's Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has assured that recent migration-related tensions involving foreign African nationals, including Ghanaians, will not affect the longstanding diplomatic relations between Ghana and South Africa.

His comments follow growing concerns over xenophobic attacks and reported harassment of foreign nationals in South Africa, with Ghana raising the matter at the African Union level and demanding answers over the killing of a Ghanaian national in the country.

Mr. Lamola, who recently visited Ghana as a special envoy of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said both countries had agreed to separate the migration challenges from their broader bilateral relations.

"There was an agreement between ourselves and Ghana that the current migration-related challenges will not stand in the way of South Africa-Ghana bilateral relations. It does not impact the Ghana-South Africa bilateral relations because South Africa and Ghana have got long-enduring good friendship and relations," he said.

Addressing the media in South Africa on Friday, July 24, the Minister said Ghana's concerns provided an opportunity for South Africa to explain its position on the migration issues.

He acknowledged that countries have the sovereign right to enforce their immigration laws but stressed that such actions must be carried out within legal frameworks and with respect for human rights.

Mr. Lamola explained that one of the key challenges facing South Africa was irregular migration, which he said required coordinated measures rather than unlawful actions by individuals.

"The challenges we have and face is irregular migration. But the points that they are both raising is that even when there is irregular migration, it will be dealt with in a human way. It will not be dealt with through people taking the law into their own hands," he stated.

He condemned attacks and harassment of foreign nationals and noted that the South African government does not support individuals taking the law into their own hands.

The Minister further called on law enforcement agencies to act against anyone involved in such acts because migration challenges must be addressed through established legal and diplomatic channels.