JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South African opposition leader Julius Malema has strongly criticised Ghana’s decision to evacuate its citizens from South Africa, arguing that the move risks inflaming regional tensions and unfairly tarnishing the reputation of ordinary South Africans.
Speaking to journalists, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) questioned the timing of the evacuation process, asserting that Accra should have given South African law enforcement and government officials more time to stabilize the situation through internal dialogue.
The diplomatic friction follows a wave of anti-immigrant demonstrations across South Africa, which has prompted hundreds of frightened Ghanaian nationals to register for voluntary repatriation.
“An Extreme Situation”
Mr Malema expressed deep concern over the international message the evacuation sends, warning that it creates a damaging blanket perception about the safety of foreigners in South Africa.
“The Ghana response was not necessary at that moment,” Malema stated. “It creates a perception that we are all like that. We don’t think Ghana responded in a manner that really enforces dialogue and diplomatic engagement. It actually creates a very bad, extreme situation.”
The EFF leader emphasized that legally documented Ghanaian migrants who currently feel vulnerable should rely on local security infrastructure rather than fleeing. He maintained that those facing intimidation should be able to seek formal protection from the police and other national security agencies without fear.
Hundreds Board Evacuation Flights
Despite Malema’s assurances, the reality on the ground has seen hundreds of migrants choose safety over diplomacy.
The voluntary repatriation process turned highly visible on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, when an initial group of approximately 300 Ghanaian nationals—including many women and children—gathered at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport to board the first flight back to Accra.
The scale of the exodus includes the following coordinates:
- Total Registrations: Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, confirmed that 826 Ghanaian nationals have formally registered to be flown home.
- Upcoming Air Lift: Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that additional evacuation flights are being scheduled to arrive next week to transport the remaining citizens.
June Deadline Sparks Panic
The sudden rush to leave follows a series of highly volatile protests organized by a group calling itself “March and March” across key provinces, including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape.
The activist group has issued a public ultimatum demanding that all undocumented foreign nationals leave South Africa by the end of June. Local media reports indicate that the demonstrations have frequently descended into outright intimidation, with several Ghanaian nationals reporting violent attacks and direct threats to their safety.
South Africa has been plagued by recurrent cycles of xenophobic violence over the past two decades. These outbreaks typically target economic migrants and refugees arriving from other African nations, often sparked by localized tensions over jobs, housing, and public services.
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