South Africa has dismissed an ICC petition filed by two Ghanaians seeking an investigation into attacks on foreigners, calling the move opportunistic as pressure grows over unrest linked to undocumented migrants. The petition was lodged with the International Criminal Court in The Hague last week and argues that the violence may amount to crimes against humanity.
The filing accuses South Africa’s government of failing to prevent the attacks and punish those responsible. But the foreign ministry said the complaint does not meet the ICC’s legal threshold and insisted the country’s own justice system is capable of dealing with the matter. It said South Africa remains committed to the rule of law and would ensure anyone who carries out violence or unlawful acts is held accountable in its courts.
Tensions between Ghana and South Africa have risen as anti-migrant protests spread. Ghana was one of the first African countries to bring home its citizens after the latest wave of unrest. It has said one of its nationals was killed in the violence, a claim South African authorities have denied. Other countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda, have also been arranging flights or buses to bring their citizens back.
Anti-migrant groups set a 30 June deadline for undocumented migrants to leave, and many foreigners have chosen to flee rather than risk intimidation or violence. South Africa says more than 53,000 foreign nationals have recently been deported or voluntarily repatriated, while an AFP tally based on figures from migrants’ home governments puts the number of departures at more than 160,000 over the past two months. Protesters have demanded tighter border controls and mass deportations, blaming migrants for unemployment, crime and the collapse of public services.
