Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa Kwesi Ahwoi says xenophobic attacks on African nationals are ‘calming down in a lot of areas’.

Speaking on Joy News’ Top Story, Kwesi Ahwoi explained that talks of immediate evacuation may be too early an option.

Nonetheless, there is a plan in place to evacuate Ghanaians if the situation “demands” it, Ahwoi assured. He also said the High Commission was in touch with leaders of Ghanaian associations scattered across South Africa.

Xenophobic attacks in South Africa have claimed five lives including a Ghanaian, Emmanuel Quarcoo.

Xenophobia is exposing an embarrassing picture of poor economic conditions among black South Africa.

According to Kwesi Ahwoi, African ambassadors and High Commissioners have been meeting with members of the South African government to explain steps the government is taking to normalize the situation.

The government of South Africa has described the attacks as ‘criminal opportunism’.

BBC has reported that foreign-owned shops in South Africa have been attacked and looted in East Johannesburg, the latest in a series of xenophobic attacks.

A standoff developed in the city, with police forming a barrier between an angry crowd and foreign-owned shops.

The violence comes despite Thursday's rally against xenophobia in the coastal city of Durban, and condemnation from President Jacob Zuma.

Eyewitness: Raphael Nkomo, a Zimbabwean living and working in Johannesburg

What I saw when I was going to the shops on Thursday evening, it was so terrible.

A group of men were dropped from a mini bus, and all of them were armed with pangas, a [type of] very big knife.

They started chasing people, throwing stones at them. Some were even knifed.

We had to run for cover. We ended up in the shops, and the owners closed the shops while we were still inside until the police were called.

What I saw was terrifying, and if it continues like this by the time the government wakes up many people will be dead. It is very, very bad.

 

Listen to audio