Understanding South Africa’s Current Tensions: Insights for Ghanaians and Fellow Africans
My brothers and sisters in Ghana and across the continent,
Once again, distressing images have flooded our timelines: Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa, shops attacked, harassment in townships, and the painful label of “xenophobia.” As I sit in Accra reflecting on my own experiences in Mzansi, my heart feels heavy. This piece, co-written with my South African alter-ego Siyabonga Mthimkhulu, draws from candid conversations I initiated with several South Africans, my personal travels, and realities many outsiders miss. We need understanding and #MoreVim, not just outrage.
My connection to South Africa goes back to November 2011. I visited both Joburg and Cape Town while there for Google work. And then in May 2013, I was in Cape Town for the World Economic Forum on Africa — #shapeafrica. Wearing my GhanaThink Foundation, badge proudly, I immersed myself in sessions, networking, and cultural exchanges. The city greeted me with Table Mountain watching over everything, the Atlantic breeze, and that unmistakable South African energy. I attended a powerful jazz musical called Ilizwi, where the crowd sang “Sthandwa sam” with such soul. I tweeted my #233moments from the Southern Sun Cullinan hotel, sparking conversations. A restaurant lady laughed when I explained Ghanaian references and said she’d always remember what “27” means.
Everywhere, my Ghana flag opened doors. People shared stories of Ghanaian professionals contributing in South Africa since the 1980s. We talked Nkrumah, the anti-apartheid struggle, and our common dreams. I connected with Global Shapers from Abidjan and Lomé, learned about Coca-Cola’s CSR initiatives, and marvelled at Brand SA’s presence. University of Cape Town stood out as a beacon alongside Ashesi back home. I left a bit sad I didn’t make it to Robben Island or the cable car, but the real treasure was the people. The vibrancy, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit in informal markets left a lasting impression. South Africa felt like a powerhouse with immense potential — and real contradictions.
Fast forward to 2026. In May, Ghana chartered flights to bring home nearly 300 citizens who no longer felt safe. As of June, over a thousand Ghanaians have benefitted from this support. Protests against illegal immigration turned violent in places. Shops were targeted, foreigners told to “go back home,” and social media amplified the pain. From Accra, Kumasi or Tamale, , etc, it feels like a betrayal — especially remembering how Ghana and other African nations stood with South Africa during the liberation struggle. South African Tourism voiced concern over cancelled bookings, condemning violence and vigilante actions. Mzansi must be feeling the tourism pinch. The government reaffirmed its commitment to democracy, equality, and hospitality, noting such incidents involve a minority.
Yet, as someone who experienced the best of Mzansi, I know the story is far more complex. The violence is real and condemnable, but concentrated in specific areas and rooted in deep domestic frustrations. Conversations with South Africans revealed a recurring pattern erupting every few years, often timed with elections. Certain groups incite unrest in townships, public hospitals, taxi ranks, and informal kiosks. Poor government leadership bears much blame: when the state fails to deliver jobs, housing, and services, frustration turns toward vulnerable migrants running spaza shops in low-income areas. Black African migrants in informal settings are hit hardest; affluent suburbs like parts of Cape Town experience far less tension.
Discussions highlighted a sense of lost national pride since the Nelson Mandela era. Compared to Ghana, Nigeria, Eswatini or Angola, cultural belonging sometimes feels weaker. Siyabonga Mthimkhulu helped me see how South Africans in the diaspora often lack the tight communities we Ghanaians build. Immigration is global, but hostile rhetoric — accusations of drugs, prostitution, and job-stealing — wounds deeply. Some call it self-hate. For us in Ghana, this is a mirror. We must examine our treatment of migrants. True Pan-Africanism requires self-reflection and visionary leadership.
Other voices framed it primarily as a rule-of-law crisis amplified by (social) media. South Africa’s immigration system has suffered corruption, with Home Affairs facing backlogs and bribery. Undocumented migrants strain collapsing infrastructure — electricity (load shedding), water, housing, healthcare. unemployment exceeds 30%, youth rates higher, alongside inflation, crime, and failing services. Many crimes involve untraceable individuals. Recent clean-up efforts bring hope. Widespread violence is often less severe than viral videos suggest; some footage is from 2015 or 2019. South Africa’s history of violence adds context. Not every incident is ethnic hatred; much stems from governance failure and unmanaged migration. Blanket condemnation ignores millions who coexist peacefully and benefit from immigrant entrepreneurship.
Official perspectives emphasize addressing criminality, official corruption, and crimes tied to some immigrants, while noting positive historical ties with Ghanaians since the 1980s. Narratives quickly mix with geopolitics, including external interference claims. The events are also seen as politically calculated, exploiting grievances in ways reminiscent of “divide and conquer” tactics, especially around elections. Across views, Black-on-Black violence is particularly disheartening, rarely targeting other groups with equal intensity. Root causes include poor governance, inequality, poverty, apartheid’s trauma, and fierce competition in dense areas like Johannesburg CBD and Durban townships. Many African immigrants create jobs as entrepreneurs, highlighting the irony.
What many non-South Africans miss is this deeper context. South Africa hosts millions of migrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, Zambia, Undocumented numbers strain the country. Migrants fill retail and service gaps, yet locals in townships see competition amid scarce jobs. Structural issues — education failures, energy crises, post-COVID recovery — fuel resentment. With one of the world’s highest murder rates, violence is familiar. Flare-ups align with politics; social media spreads old videos. On the ground, as I saw in Cape Town, many Africans live peacefully. Universities host thousands of Ghanaian students. Professionals thrive.
For Ghanaians, lessons are clear. Prioritize safety: register with the Ghana High Commission and avoid high-risk areas during tension. Diversify opportunities — consider Rwanda, Kenya, Botswana, etc - we can learn from that engagement. Strengthen social capital: build networks, mentorship, early warning systems. Demand better governance continent-wide. Embrace nuanced Pan-Africanism — condemn violence, support rule of law and orderly migration, but avoid stereotyping 60 million South Africans. Invest in documentation and skills. Share success stories of Ghanaian innovators in Mzansi.
This situation exposes our unfinished continental business. We overcame colonialism and apartheid, yet economic despair divides us. Solutions lie in honest dialogue, shared growth, and youth innovation — not isolation or retaliation. Conversations with South Africans show thoughtful engagement with these issues. Ghanaians carry a proud legacy of leadership in Africa; let us use this moment to raise standards across borders.
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