Ghanaians in South Africa (SA) so far are safe, with none in custody following a temporary detention by authorities, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, has assured.

He made these remarks following anti-immigration demonstrations that took place across parts of South Africa on Tuesday, June 30.

According to the Commissioner, his outfit was monitoring developments surrounding the anti-immigration campaign in the early hours of June 30, and every Ghanaian who was detained by authorities during the protest had been released following their intervention.

“We’ve been monitoring the situation since 6 a.m. this morning. A couple of Ghanaians were arrested and all of them, I can confidently tell you, have been released through the intervention of our consular officers,” he said.

He explained that as part of measures to safeguard Ghanaians in South Africa currently, the Ghanaian government has arranged with the SA government that any national who is detained must be communicated to the Commission there.

When any Ghanaian encounters the SA police, they undergo immigration checks, which include presentation of documents, after which the Ghanaian consular is consulted to confirm their nationality. Some of those detained were stopped by police during the immigration checks.

“The agreement is that if any Ghanaian is arrested, the authorities should first confirm with us. We verify whether the individual is indeed Ghanaian and advise accordingly,” he stated.

His comments come as anti-immigration protests intensified in several South African cities, including Pretoria, where hundreds of demonstrators marched through the city centre demanding stricter enforcement of immigration laws.

What happened in SA on June 30

On Tuesday, June 30, the anti-immigration protesters embarked on a massive protest, which has so far been described as the peak of the demonstrations against illegal immigrants. They coordinated marches across all nine provinces. The protests, driven by groups like Operation Dudula and March and March, turned violent in several areas, leading to arrests, looting, and at least one confirmed death.

State of Ghanaians so far

Despite the tensions, the High Commissioner said the mission had not received reports of widespread attacks against Ghanaians.

The Ghanaian High Commissioner indicated that Ghanaians left to be evacuated have been advised to stay indoors to prevent any possible danger. So far, his outfit has yet to receive any news of attacks against Ghanaians.

He disclosed that only one Ghanaian had been caught up in an incident during the protests after ignoring advice from the High Commission to remain indoors.

“The only case we recorded involved a Ghanaian who admitted that he left his accommodation to visit his shop despite our advice. Unfortunately, protesters confronted him,” Mr Quashie said.

Apart from that incident, he stressed that no Ghanaian-owned property had been destroyed and no Ghanaian had been injured or caught in the crossfire of the demonstrations.

The Ghana High Commission has continued to urge Ghanaian nationals in South Africa to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movement, and comply with safety directives while authorities monitor the evolving security situation.

The mission is also preparing to undertake another voluntary repatriation exercise next week for Ghanaians who wish to return home amid the growing anti-immigration tensions.

Events on the ground

The June 30 protests have been described as the day that saw the highest number of clashes, arrests, and international diplomatic reactions, marking it as the climax of the campaign.

Protest leaders branded it a “national march to freedom”. Protests happened across almost all provinces in South Africa, including Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, and the Eastern Cape, among other regions, leading to the death of one person during a break‑in at a storage facility.

Shops were looted in Cape Town’s Delft, and 10 arrests were made. About 250 arrests were made in the Eastern Cape, plus 200 undocumented migrants detained.

Protesters smashed windows in Johannesburg (Yeoville/Hillbrow), fires were set, and police and soldiers deployed.

In Durban, protesters marched in Zulu warrior attire with spears, whips, and shields, underscoring ethnic identity politics.