Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has recounted how he nearly lost his life during his six-year stay in South Africa, amid renewed concerns over attacks on foreign nationals in the country.

Apostle Nyamekye said his years in South Africa exposed him directly to some of the security challenges faced by Ghanaians and other migrants.

Speaking to the Communication Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he recalled being confronted by armed robbers on two separate occasions, one of which he described as particularly dangerous.

“I lived in South Africa for about six years, and I suffered a lot from some of these things. I almost died in South Africa. Two times, I was accosted by armed robbers. The last one was too dangerous. When I was leaving South Africa, my luggage was stolen,” he said.

Apostle Nyamekye also recalled returning to South Africa more recently after a national deacon of The Church of Pentecost was kidnapped during a church service.

“And then recently, I had to rush to South Africa, about a year plus ago, when our national deacon was kidnapped in the midst of an offering, and I had to rush to South Africa. I was the right person to go, not because I was a chairman, but because they knew that I have also suffered from some of these things, so I needed to go in there and speak,” he added.

He said those experiences gave him a deeper appreciation of the insecurity and difficulties some Ghanaians encounter while living and working in South Africa.

His comments come amid renewed concern over the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa following recent xenophobic incidents and related security concerns involving Ghanaians.