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South Africa's High Commissioner to Ghana Ms Lulama Xingwana, has disclosed that four persons, have threatened to burn down the Commission's office in Accra.

According to her, the four men stormed the High Commission's premises on Friday and tried to force their way in but their effort was thwarted by the security attachment at the Commission.

Updating the media in Accra on the xenophobic attacks currently on-going in her home country at apress conference on Monday, she indicated that whiles an official complaint has been lodged with the police, it is important to note that the SA Commission in Accra has nationals from both Ghana and South Africa on their staff list and must all be protected.

“...they threatened that they will be coming back to burn the High Commission’s offices...and we have received support from the police to make sure that the premises are safe,” Ms Xingwana revealed.

Following the false report of the death of some five Ghanaians which led to growing anger among Ghanaians and threats of reprisal attacks, security at the South Africa High Commission in Accra has been beefed up with fully armed security personnel from both the Ghana Police and the Ghana National Fire Service stationed at various access routes to the premises. 

Police vehicles and a fire tender have also been parked in front of the building.


Five Ghanaians have been confirmed dead in South Africa, though their deaths were unrelated to the xenophobic attacks.

Four (a man, two women and a baby) of the five died Heibron, a town in the Free State Province in South Africa. They were found locked in a salon and were foaming at the mouth and postmorten results indicate they died as a result of inhaling smoke from a power generator.

They were said to have left the generator running in the salon, which doubles as their residence.

The other Ghanaian, Emmanuel Quarcoo, died from natural causes in Durban. He was said to be epileptic and that the postmortem results explained natural causes for his death. 


Instigators

The recent attacks which have left many dead, businesses and shops vandalised, many beaten up mercilessly, was incited by a statement allegedly made by South African Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who told African migrants to go home as they were no longer welcome in South Africa.