Pretoria – The South African Presidency has moved to correct what it describes as inaccurate information circulating about recent deaths involving foreign nationals in the country, cautioning against the spread of misinformation around South Africa’s migration challenges.
The statement, issued on Sunday, comes after the World Health Organization characterised the deaths of Ethiopian nationals in a manner the Presidency says does not reflect the facts. According to Pretoria, the deaths fall within the realm of organised crime, as has already been publicly reported, and are being actively investigated by law enforcement agencies.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation will engage the WHO directly to ensure the information before the organisation is both accurate and reliable, and to outline in detail how the South African government is addressing the matter.
On the deaths of Mozambican nationals, the South African Police Service has confirmed that those cases are also under active investigation.
The Presidency said it deeply regrets the loss of life in both incidents. “The Presidency deeply regrets the tragic loss of life in these recent incidents, as one life lost is simply one too many. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and communities affected,” the statement read.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration have been clear that only duly authorised law enforcement officials carry the mandate to enforce the law, the Presidency said.
Leave a comment