South Africa is once again at epicenter of a heated debate surrounding the migration, xenophobia, and the tragic loss of life.
Conflicting accounts from the Presidency and international bodies, notably the World Health Organization (WHO), have cast a spotlight on the nation’s ongoing struggle to manage migrant population and address underlying social tensions.
The South African Presidency, in a statement released on Monday, June 15, 2026, expressed profound regret over recent fatalities, emphasizing that “one life lost is simply one too many.”
The Presidency announced that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation would engage the WHO to ensure accurate, reliable information regarding these incidents.
Crucially, the Presidency challenged the WHO’s characterization of the deaths of Ethiopian nationals, asserting that these events fall within the realm of organized
crime and are under active investigation by law enforcement agencies.
Similarly, the South African Police Service (SAPS) is actively investigating the deaths of Mozambican nationals.
President Ramaphosa and the Inter- Ministerial Committee on Migration reiterated that only authorized law enforcement officials are mandated to enforce the law.
However, a social media post from Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director -General of the WHO, painted a starkly different picture, describing “profoundly heartbreaking…. surge of xenophobic violence in #SouthAfrica this week.”
Dr. Tedros reported that “hundreds have marched on Parliament, thousands of families have been displaced, and lives have been tragically cut short.”
He specifically cited the deaths of “at least five Ethiopians killed earlier in the attacks, and five Mozambicans who died in Mossel Bay,” noting that “thousands more are now fleeing for their lives.”
Dr. Tedros condemned the situation as “tragic betrayal of the country’s struggle for independence, freedom,” recalling Ethiopia’s historical support for Nelson Mandela during the anti-apartheid movement.
He urged that “disagreements and grievances must be addressed by the justice system and the rule of law, never through vigilante violence and collective punishment,” concluding with a plea to “Stop the hate. Protect the vulnerable. Uphold our shared humanity.”
Fact-checking reveals a complex and deeply concerning situation on ground. Reports from Al Jazeera indicate that more than 3,000 Malawians, including hundreds of children, have sought refuge in an informal camp in Durban, fleeing anti-immigrant threats and attacks.
Nigeria has repatriated 260 nationals, with Ghana, Mozambique, and Malawi undertaking similar operations.
Groups armed with sticks and shields have reportedly marched through parts of S’Africa, demanding that foreigners without documentation leave by June 30.
The Al Jazeera report also confirmed that five Mozambicans were killed in Mossel Bay, and over 150 Malawians were bused out of the Western Cape province.
Additionally, approximately 150 migrants from Burundi, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe are sheltering in a government office near Durban.
South Africa has a history of recurring
xenophobic violence dating back to 2008, with foreign nationals constituting about five percent of the population.
Regarding the Ethiopian nationals, an Addis Standard report from April 28, 2026, detailed the killing of at least three Ethiopian nationals in a Johannesburg shooting, an incident that also claimed the lives of two Nigerian nationals.
The Ethiopian chargé d’affaires in
Pretoria, Dessie Alebachew, who confirmed four Ethiopian deaths in total, acknowledged that while the motive remained unclear, the social climate for foreign nationals in South Africa has been increasingly volatile, marked by organized vigilantism and political rhetoric.
The discrepancies between the Presidency’s assertion of “organized crime” and the WHO’s and other media outlets’ characterization of “xenophobic violence” highlight a critical divergence in understanding and addressing the crisis.
While law enforcement investigations are ongoing, the broader context of anti- immigrant sentiment and historical
patterns of xenophobia cannot be overlooked.
The call for justice and the upholding of
human dignity resonates deeply as South Africa navigates this challenging period.
