Ghana has postponed a visit by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, according to a government spokesman, amid a diplomatic dispute sparked by anti-migrant protests in South Africa.

Ramaphosa had planned to travel to Ghana in the first week of August, with officials hoping it would help de-escalate tensions between the two countries. But Ghanaian officials said the visit would not proceed “for the time being” due to the “present climate around xenophobia” and fears that his presence could trigger mass protests.

South Africa said the countries would keep engaging through diplomatic channels to find a new date. It also described the planned trip as part of a continuing series of bilateral meetings rather than a state visit.

The row intensified after Ghana condemned the alleged killing of a 40-year-old Ghanaian man during anti-immigration protests in Cape Town on 30 June. South African authorities denied that the killing happened and said the only Ghanaian death was another man, whose death they said was not linked to the protests. South Africa’s justice minister accused Ghana of spreading “false information” about events.

Ghana has also repatriated more than 900 of its citizens from South Africa, with further return flights expected. Similar steps have been taken by other African countries, as anti-foreigner protests and related displacement continue.

A central point of contention is immigration status documentation: Ghana claims many Ghanaians in South Africa had the necessary residency papers, while Pretoria disputes that. Neither side has provided evidence to support its claims.