The South African Police Service (SAPS) has denied reports of the shooting of a Ghanaian in Khayelitsha amid anti-immigrant protests in the country.
A statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, July 1said the incident occurred on Monday, June 29, naming the deceased national as Bashiru Isak, 40.
It said it directed the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria to formally register Ghana’s protest with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, and to file a complaint with the South African Police Service.
However, a press release issued by SAPS said no such incident occurred.
“With regard to the media release issued by the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the South African Police Service has no record of the alleged murder in Khayelitsha,” SAPS noted.
“An earnest plea is therefore made to the authorities concerned to provide details of the alleged Khayelitsha incident to the SAPS to enable further investigation.”
The press release, however, confirmed another fatal shooting involving a Ghanaian national who lives in Khayelitsha.
The incident, according to SAPS,took place in Nyanga.
“Official crime scene reports indicate that the deceased male, later identified as 35-year-old Mr Kwabena Boagen, was shot at the Nyanga Terminus in front of the NTG Hair Salon and Shoe Repairs at approximately 15:45 on Monday, in circumstances that point to extortion-related crime perpetrated by yet-to-be-arrested gunmen.
“He was declared dead at the scene by Emergency Medical Services personnel.
“A murder docket was subsequently opened for investigation by Nyanga detectives, who have been in contact with a relative of the deceased and, on behalf of the SAPS, conveyed their heartfelt condolences.”