Ghanaian Tailor Killed During Anti-Foreigner Protests in South Africa
A Ghanaian tailor has reportedly been shot and killed in Cape Town, South Africa, during violent protests directed at foreign nationals.
The Ghana High Commission in South Africa confirmed the incident, saying the victim was attacked inside his shop on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
The man is said to have lived and worked in South Africa for about 20 years. He left behind three children, with the eldest reportedly around 10 years old.
According to the Ghanaian mission, arrangements are being made to bring his body back to Ghana for burial and other family rites.
The killing happened amid rising anti-immigrant protests in South Africa, where foreign nationals and their businesses have come under attack in some areas.
The demonstrations were linked to a campaign calling for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa by June 30. The campaign was led by the civic group March and March, headed by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma.
The group’s campaign, which began in December 2025, spread across South Africa in 2026 and has been associated with hostile actions against foreign nationals.
On the day of the protest, more than 20 civic groups joined demonstrations across all nine provinces of South Africa.
In Johannesburg’s central business district, some people believed to be foreign nationals were confronted by protesters. However, a small group was protected by bystanders and taken to safety.
South African authorities had prepared for the protests by deploying heavy security. Police leave was cancelled, and the South African National Defence Force was placed on standby.
The government also committed about R600 million, equivalent to roughly $36.4 million, for the security operation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had earlier welcomed assurances that the demonstrations would be peaceful, but warned that violence would not be accepted under any circumstances.
The unrest did not begin on the day of the protest. Human rights organisations had already reported several weeks of attacks linked to anti-immigrant vigilante groups.
Some of the reported incidents included the killing of Mozambican nationals in Mossel Bay and the death of a Malawian man who was beaten in Pietermaritzburg after public incitement.
At least two people had already died in xenophobic attacks before the June 30 deadline, leading some African governments to send aircraft to evacuate their citizens from South Africa.
South African authorities have not yet released full details about the shooting of the Ghanaian tailor, and no arrests have been officially confirmed.
The Ghana High Commission says it is working with the relevant authorities to ensure that the killing is fully investigated.
The mission also said it will continue supporting the victim’s family as preparations are made to repatriate his body to Ghana.
