South Africa condemns 'fake' xenophobia videos as Ghana calls for AU mission
South Africa's government has dismissed widely-shared online videos of alleged xenophobic attacks as fake. Ghana, meanwhile, has asked the African Union to dispatch a fact-finding mission to assess the situation on the ground.
According to the BBC, South Africa's government has said the bulk of online videos depicting alleged xenophobic attacks are fake. Officials said outdated footage and unrelated incidents were being repackaged as fresh assaults on foreign nationals.
Pressure from other African countries is still rising, however. Ghana has formally asked the African Union to send a fact-finding mission to South Africa. The mission, if dispatched, is expected to examine the conditions facing migrants and review claims of casualties and property damage.
Migration remains a recurring source of tension in South African public debate. Authorities have warned that misleading claims could damage continental ties, while civil society groups argue that local triggers of unrest should still be monitored carefully. Police patrols have been stepped up in townships and major cities.
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