Ghana has announced that it will evacuate 300 of its citizens from South Africa, in response to the latest wave of protests against foreigners.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Kofi Okudzeto Ablakwa announced in a post on X on Tuesday that the Ghanaian President has approved their "immediate evacuation".

He said that "distressed" Ghanaians had registered with the country's embassy in Pretoria to be rescued, following advice from the Foreign Ministry about "the latest wave of xenophobic attacks against foreigners".

Last week, South African authorities denied that anyone had been attacked, saying that widely circulated videos were fake.

On Monday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that recent "protests and criminal acts against foreigners" did not reflect government policy, and described them as "isolated acts of criminality".

He added that South Africa "will regulate migration, secure its borders and enforce its laws".

Thousands of South Africans have joined protests against illegal immigration, demanding the mass deportation of illegal foreign nationals. Protesters say that illegal immigration has affected jobs, housing and crime.

On Tuesday, the Ghanaian embassy in South Africa advised its citizens to be very careful and prioritize their safety by avoiding public gatherings and closing their shops or businesses ahead of a protest planned for Wednesday in the port city of Durban.

Ghana and Nigeria have recently recalled their ambassadors to their respective countries over allegations of mistreatment and harassment of their nationals.

Ghana has also written to the African Union (AU) asking it to look into the matter, saying it represents "a serious threat to the safety and well-being of Africans in South Africa".

South Africa has responded, saying it "has nothing to hide". The government has condemned what it called "fake videos and images" that some have described as recordings of attacks on foreigners.

Other countries that have warned their citizens in South Africa include Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Official figures say that South Africa is home to more than three million foreigners, or about 5% of the population, but there are likely many more without documentation.

Xenophobia has long been a problem in the country, and has been accompanied by occasional explosions of deadly attacks.

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