Pretoria: The Presidency has issued a warning about the dangers of spreading misinformation concerning South Africa's immigration challenges. This announcement follows a statement by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemning recent attacks on foreign nationals that reportedly resulted in several fatalities.
According to South African Government News Agency, the attacks claimed the lives of at least five Ethiopians and five Mozambicans in Mossel Bay. In a statement released on Monday, the Presidency emphasized that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation will engage with the WHO to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information being disseminated.
The statement clarified that the South African government is addressing the complex issue and noted that the WHO's description of the Ethiopian nationals' deaths was incorrect. The Presidency explained that these deaths are linked to organized crime, information that has been publicly reported and is currently being investigated by law enforcement agencies.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that the investigation into the Mozambican nationals' deaths is ongoing. The Presidency reiterated President Cyril Ramaphosa's and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration's firm position that only authorized law enforcement officials are empowered to enforce the law.
The Presidency expressed profound sorrow over the loss of life in these incidents, emphasizing the value of each life lost. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and communities affected," the Presidency stated.