Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has criticised Ghana’s decision to evacuate its citizens from South Africa amid rising anti-immigrant tensions and xenophobic incidents in parts of the country.
Speaking during a recent interview, the South African opposition politician described the move as premature, arguing that the situation did not justify a large-scale evacuation effort. Malema maintained that only a small group of individuals were responsible for attacks targeting foreign nationals and urged African governments to pursue diplomatic engagement rather than react hastily.
Ghana recently began repatriating hundreds of its nationals following weeks of protests and reported assaults on migrants in several South African communities. The first batch of nearly 300 Ghanaians arrived in Accra under a voluntary evacuation programme coordinated by both governments.
Ghanaian authorities said the exercise was introduced to protect citizens who no longer felt safe after tensions escalated around immigration-related protests and allegations of harassment against foreigners. More than 800 Ghanaians reportedly registered with the country’s High Commission in Pretoria seeking assistance to return home.
Malema, however, insisted that South Africa should not be broadly labelled as xenophobic, adding that the actions of a few individuals do not reflect the views of the entire country. He also called for calm while authorities work to address concerns around illegal immigration and public safety.
The situation has sparked wider debate across Africa over migration, unemployment, and the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa, where economic hardship and social tensions have fueled repeated anti-immigrant demonstrations in recent years.