JOHANNESBURG, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Some 1,500 Ghanaians have registered with their High Commission in South Africa to be repatriated to Ghana following growing anti-immigrant sentiment in the country.
According to a statement issued by the High Commission of Ghana to South Africa on Monday, over 1,500 Ghanaians have registered, and the verification and processing of these applications are currently underway.
The High Commission also announced a temporary halt to new registrations so that officials could "process and screen the large number of applications already received."
South Africa has witnessed a tense wave of anti-immigration demonstrations. Organizers cite high domestic unemployment, rising crime rates and mounting pressure on public infrastructure as their primary grievances.
Anti-immigration groups have set June 30 as a deadline, demanding that all undocumented foreigners leave the country, and have threatened a nationwide shutdown if the government fails to act.
On Monday, Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel notice urging its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to South Africa.
