Government has facilitated the repatriation of the mortal remains of Ghanaian national Bashiru Isak, who was was shot multiple times in Khayelitsha, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.
The incident is said to have happened in connection with latest waves of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The South African Police Service (SAPS), however, denied this.
“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 in a statement on Thursday, July 2.
“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.”
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs consequently followed up, confirming that the deceased was a law-abiding citizen and a father of three.
“This irrefutable fact is contrary to false claims initially made by some South African officials.”
Through the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria, his mortal remains were brought home on Tuesday, July 14.
They arrived at 6:40pm.
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 Government of Ghana’s thoughts and prayers continue to be with Mr. Isak’s family for their irreplaceable loss,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry wrote on Wednesday.
The Ministry and bereaved family have agreed to conduct an independent autopsy, particularly as Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria and Mr. Isak’s family have been unsuccesful in obtaining an autopsy report from South African authorities.
The government has also renewed its demand for justice.
“We expect expedited investigations, arrests and prosecution,” it said. “There must be no room for silence or cover-ups in the gruesome killing of Mr. Isak.”
According to the Ministry, after the autopsy, Mr. Bashiru Isak shall be buried in accordance with Islamic customs.
It pledged committment to pursuing all appropriate diplomatic and legal avenues to ensure that justice is manifestly served.