The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape has clarified that the fatal shooting of a Ghanaian national in Nyanga is believed to be linked to extortion-related criminal activity, rather than protest-related or xenophobic violence.
The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Kwabena Boagen, who was shot and killed on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the Nyanga Terminus in Cape Town.
According to police, the incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. in front of the NTG Hair Salon and Shoe Repairs, where unidentified gunmen opened fire on the victim before fleeing the scene. Emergency Medical Services responded but Mr. Boagen was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a statement published on its Facebook page, the police said investigations so far suggest the attack is rooted in extortion-related crime.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape confirms the murder of a Ghanaian national in Nyanga on Monday, 29 June 2026, in circumstances believed to be linked to the crime of extortion,” the statement said.
Investigators indicated that preliminary crime scene findings point strongly to extortion as the likely motive, although no arrests have yet been made. Detectives from Nyanga are leading the investigation and working to identify those responsible.
Police also confirmed that the deceased lived in nearby Khayelitsha but worked in Nyanga, where the attack occurred. They added that contact has already been made with a relative of the victim, and condolences have been conveyed to the family.
A post-mortem examination is currently being conducted by South Africa’s Department of Health in line with legal procedures.
The police statement follows earlier comments from Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which had linked the killing to anti-immigrant demonstrations and xenophobic attacks in Khayelitsha. However, SAPS has rejected that account, saying there is no record supporting such an incident in Khayelitsha.
“With regard to the media release issued by the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the South African Police Service has no record of the alleged murder in Khayelitsha,” the statement noted.
Authorities say investigations remain ongoing as they work to establish the full circumstances behind the killing.
