South Africa calls Ghanaian ICC petition over migrant attacks opportunistic

A petition submitted to the High Court in Johannesburg contends that the surge in violent attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa could qualify as crimes against humanity under international law. The petition, signed by a coalition of civil‑society organisations and legal experts, urges the court to recognise the systematic nature of the assaults and to order comprehensive measures to protect migrants and hold perpetrators accountable.

The filing references a series of xenophobic incidents that have resulted in dozens of deaths, injuries and widespread property damage across several provinces since early 2023. It cites the United Nations’ definition of crimes against humanity, arguing that the repeated, widespread, and state‑tolerated nature of the violence meets the requisite criteria. The petition requests that the court order an independent investigation, mandate protective actions for vulnerable communities, and consider initiating criminal proceedings against officials who have failed to prevent or address the attacks. The court is expected to deliver a ruling in the coming weeks, which could set a precedent for how South Africa addresses large‑scale violence against migrant populations.