South Africa's Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has condemned attacks against foreign nationals amid migration tensions in the country.
His comments follow concerns over recent xenophobic incidents in South Africa, where some foreign African nationals, including Ghanaians, have faced hostility over allegations that they are taking jobs from South Africans.
Ghana has formally raised the matter with the African Union and demanded action over the safety of its citizens in South Africa, with President John Dramani Mahama also engaging authorities on the issue.
"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, which is what we have seen now in the isolated incidences in our country," Mr. Lamola said while addressing the media in South Africa on Friday, July 24.
The Minister was speaking after his recent visit to Ghana as a special envoy of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, where he delivered a message to President Mahama on the matter.
Mr. Lamola said both countries had agreed that the current migration-related challenges would not be allowed to affect their longstanding diplomatic 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 added.
He explained that while countries have the sovereign right to enforce immigration laws, such measures must be carried out in line with regional protocols and international standards.
According to him, South Africa's main challenge is irregular migration, which requires proper regulation rather than actions by private individuals.
Mr. Lamola further condemned acts of violence and called on law enforcement agencies to arrest anyone who takes the law into their own hands.
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