Ronald Lamola

Also known as: Minister Lamola · Mr Lamola · South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola

South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and Special Envoy, defending the country's immigration enforcement amid xenophobic violence.

2026-05-082026-10-08

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

May 2026
8 MayJoy Online
… Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announced the measure following high-level discussions with her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola. …
Tinubu orders Nigerian missions in South Africa to establish crisis unit as xenophobic attacks escalate
8 MayJoy Online
… Odumegwu-Ojukwu confirmed the directive following talks with her counterpart, Ronald Lamola. …
South Africa condemns ‘fake videos’ of alleged xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals

World & Region

South Africa protests new US visa restrictions on discrimination policies

The News

South Africa on Wednesday criticised new U.S. visa restrictions announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying the measures were driven by fringe groups falsely claiming to represent the country's white minority. South Africa's foreign ministry stated the restrictions mischaracterise the country's domestic policies, calling the measures a matter of sovereign right to address racial injustice.

18 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 18 September

South Africa protests new US visa restrictions on discrimination policies
South Africa on Wednesday criticised new U.S. visa restrictions announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying the measures were driven by fringe groups falsely claiming to represent the country's white minority. South Africa's foreign ministry stated the restrictions mischaracterise the country's domestic policies, calling the measures a matter of sovereign right to address racial injustice.
18 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 14 September

Nigeria parliament boycotts South Africa over migrant safety
Nigeria's parliament has suspended official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers to boycott South African-hosted legislative activities, citing reports of attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants. Since 2022, 98 Nigerians have died in mob and hate-related incidents there, and 1,695 Nigerians have been voluntarily evacuated this year amid xenophobia-related tensions.
14 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 6 August

South Africa seeks new rules on former leaders' foreign trips
South Africa's foreign minister is recommending new rules and greater transparency for former heads of state undertaking foreign travel, following an uproar over ex-President Jacob Zuma's recent visit to India where he met Ajay Gupta, one of the businessmen allegedly central to a corruption scandal that contributed to Zuma's downfall.
6 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 5 August

South Africa plans rules for former leaders' foreign trips
South Africa's foreign minister is pushing for new rules and transparency requirements on former heads of state making foreign trips, following ex-President Jacob Zuma's controversial visit to India where he met businessman Ajay Gupta, allegedly at the centre of a state capture scandal.
5 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 4 August

Nigerian migrant flees South Africa amid anti-migrant protests
A 47-year-old Nigerian man left his wife, twin children, and business behind in Johannesburg and took a voluntary repatriation flight to Nigeria in June, citing harassment and fear for his safety as anti-migrant protests intensified. Tens of thousands of foreigners have left South Africa over the past two months, fuelling diplomatic tensions with other African nations.
4 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 31 July

South Africa defends immigration enforcement amid migrant crackdown complaints
South African Minister Ronald Lamola rejected allegations over the country's treatment of foreign migrants, asserting South Africa's sovereign right to enforce immigration laws while condemning isolated acts of violence. He noted that 82 people have been arrested for looting and vandalism, stating that authorities have the situation under control.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 28 July

Government announces GH¢5,500 support for South Africa evacuees
Ghana's government has announced a GH¢5,500 support package for Ghanaian evacuees returning from South Africa, comprising a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant, GH¢500 travel allowance, relief items, and NHIS registration. The two-phase evacuation exercise is expected to bring home nearly 2,000 Ghanaians, with the first phase having brought 926 returnees and the second phase expected to facilitate the return of about 1,000 more.
28 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Nigeria urges South Africa to prevent xenophobic attacks on migrants
Nigeria called on South Africa to do more to prevent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants, saying repeated violence was straining ties and raising questions about government complicity. Nigerian officials said at least 1,490 Nigerians have been evacuated from South Africa since the latest outbreak of xenophobic violence, and at least 98 Nigerians have been killed in such attacks since 2022.
28 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 24 July

Mahama meets South African envoy over xenophobic attacks
President John Dramani Mahama held talks with Ronald Lamola, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and Special Envoy of President Cyril Ramaphosa, regarding recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Mahama said Ghana had submitted a petition to the African Union Commission over the attacks and stressed the importance of addressing the issue at the continental level rather than avoiding it.
24 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 7 July

Ghana, South Africa should resolve tensions via diplomacy, not social media
Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Nana Asafo Adjei has urged Ghana and South Africa to resolve their diplomatic differences through established channels rather than public social media exchanges, following tensions over xenophobic attacks in South Africa targeting foreign nationals including Ghanaians. He expressed concern over public disagreement between Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and South African counterpart Ronald Lamola on social media, arguing such sensitive matters are best handled through direct diplomatic engagement.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 5 July

Zuma meets Gupta brother, sparking South African government backlash
A photograph of former South African President Jacob Zuma meeting Ajay Gupta at an Indian temple prompted Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni to say Zuma was "showing the middle finger" to South Africans. The Gupta brothers were accused a decade ago of profiting from close ties to Zuma and influencing policy; they left South Africa in 2018 amid a judicial commission investigating alleged state capture.
5 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 12 June

Ghana repatriates over 5,000 stranded citizens since COVID-19
Ghana has repatriated more than 5,000 stranded citizens from around the world since the COVID-19 pandemic began, most recently bringing home 327 nationals from Côte d'Ivoire whose homes were destroyed in a demolition exercise. The repatriations follow earlier evacuations from countries including South Africa and the United Kingdom, with contributions from the International Organisation for Migration's voluntary return programme.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 10 June

South Africa minister: 74% of returned Ghanaians overstayed visas
South Africa's Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola said nearly 74% of Ghanaians who recently returned home had overstayed their visas and were declared undesirable through established legal procedures, though he stressed the government remains committed to protecting all persons within its borders, including Ghanaian nationals.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
74% of returned Ghanaians overstayed visas, South Africa says
South Africa's Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola said nearly 74% of Ghanaians who recently returned home had overstayed their visas and were declared undesirable through legal procedures. He noted that despite immigration breaches, the South African government remains committed to protecting all persons within its borders, including Ghanaian nationals.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
South Africa investigating returns, not yet deciding on compensation
South Africa's Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola says the government is still investigating circumstances surrounding the return of Ghanaians and has not yet decided on compensation. He stated authorities are examining how incidents occurred and who may be responsible, and that it would be premature to make pronouncements on compensation while investigations are ongoing.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
South Africa investigating return of Ghanaians, postpones compensation decision
South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said the government is still investigating the circumstances of returned Ghanaians' departure and has not yet decided on compensation. He noted that many affected individuals had already been declared undesirable in South Africa due to immigration violations, and said each case would be handled on its merits.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
South African minister calls for factual reporting on xenophobia
South Africa's Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has urged officials and the public to base discussions on xenophobia on verified facts rather than misinformation, stating that authorities have verified only two deaths from recent incidents, contrary to reports claiming multiple Nigerian and Mozambican fatalities.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
SA minister urges factual reporting on xenophobic violence incidents
South Africa's Minister for International Relations Ronald Lamola called for verified facts rather than misinformation in reporting on xenophobia concerns, saying authorities have confirmed only two deaths while rejecting claims of two Nigerians and five Mozambicans killed.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 8 June

Ghana, South Africa in diplomatic dispute over xenophobia repatriation
Ghana and South Africa are engaged in a public diplomatic dispute after Ghana's embassy released video footage of evacuees aboard an aircraft. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola accused Ghana of "incomplete information and outright misinformation devoid of any diplomatic decorum," citing concerns that high-profile repatriation media campaigns distort regional migration realities and inflame local tensions.
8 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 6 June

South Africa warns Ghana against "spectacles" in citizen evacuation
South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola rebuked Ghana for what he called "public spectacles" and incomplete information during the repatriation of Ghanaian citizens fleeing xenophobic violence, saying his country will not tolerate such conduct. Ghana has organised evacuation flights for hundreds of its nationals in response to anti-immigrant protests and violence.
6 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 8 May

Tinubu orders Nigerian missions in South Africa to establish crisis unit
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate establishment of a crisis notification unit within Nigerian diplomatic missions in South Africa in response to escalating xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner tensions targeting African nationals. Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs announced the measure following discussions with her South African counterpart, and the government has advised Nigerian citizens in high-tension areas like Durban to temporarily shut their businesses and remain indoors.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →
South Africa denies fake xenophobic attack videos, Ghana seeks AU intervention
The South African government formally condemned the spread of digital content depicting alleged attacks on foreign nationals, characterizing them as "fake videos and images" intended to undermine the country's international reputation. Ghana has petitioned the African Union to intervene, describing the situation as a serious risk to the safety of Africans in South Africa and a challenge to African solidarity.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →