Body of Ghanaian victim of xenophobia repatriated home from South Africa
The body of the Ghanaian citizen killed in South Africa following the wave of xenophobia and afrophobia in that country has been repatriated to Ghana Tuesday July 14, 2026.
Bashiru Isak, the 40-year-old father of three was said to have been fatally shot multiple times in Khayelitsha, a township of Cape Town, South Africa. But South African authorities have consistently denied that Isak’s killing was connected to xenophobia.
Briefing the media in Pretoria, Wednesday July 15, South Africa presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya accused Ghana of leading a campaign of lies against South Africa. He said Ghana to a larger extent and Nigeria to a lesser extent are leading the campaign to portray South Africa as isolated on the continent.
Magwenya insisted there was no evidence that Ghanaian nationals had been disproportionately affected during anti-illegal immigration protests in South Africa.
“There was an incident involving one citizen and it was not a fatal incident,” he said, questioning what he described as an “anti-diplomatic and unconstructive posture” adopted by some Ghanaian politicians and officials.
However, in a statement issued in Accra today, Thursday July 16, and copied to Ghana Business News, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has confirmed that the deceased Isak was indeed killed in the anti-illegal immigration protests.
“This irrefutable fact is contrary to false claims initially made by some South African officials. With the consent of the bereaved family, the Government of Ghana, through its High Commission in Pretoria, facilitated the repatriation of Isak’s mortal remains, which arrived in Ghana on Tuesday 14th July, 2026 at 6:40pm,” the Ministry said.
The deceased’s family members and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the airport to receive the body which has been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital, the statement added.
According to the statement, the Ministry and Isak’s family have agreed to conduct an independent autopsy. It said that is so, because the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria and Isak’s family have been unsuccessful in obtaining an autopsy report from the South African authorities.
“The Government of Ghana renews its demand for justice. We expect expedited investigations, arrests and prosecution. There must be no room for silence or cover-ups in the gruesome killing of Isak. After the autopsy, he shall be buried in accordance with Islamic customs,” the statement said.
In recent times xenophobic and afrophobic protests have intesnified in South Africa. Some South African citizens have been mobilising and protesting, demanding that Africans living in South Africa illegally should leave the country. The protesters have been seen in videos circulating on social media, violently attacking anyone suspected to be an African. They have also been seen breaking into and looting some shops.
The Ghana government has since voluntarily repatriated about 926 of its citizens from South Africa in May and June. Some 900 citizens have been screened and are awaiting further repatriation.
By Emmanuel K Dogbevi