The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape has confirmed the fatal shooting of a Ghanaian national in Nyanga, stating that preliminary investigations suggest the killing was linked to extortion-related crime rather than xenophobic violence.
In a statement issued by SAPS on its Facebook page, police identified the deceased as 35-year-old Mr. Kwabena Boagen, who was shot and killed on Monday, June 29, at the Nyanga Terminus in Cape Town.
According to police, the incident occurred at approximately 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 personnel responded to the incident but pronounced Mr. Boagen dead at the scene.
“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 said official crime scene findings point to extortion as the likely motive behind the attack, although no arrests have yet been made.
Police have since opened a murder investigation, with detectives from Nyanga leading efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.
According to SAPS, detectives have already established contact with a relative of the deceased and conveyed the organisation’s condolences to the bereaved family.
The Police further disclosed that Mr. Boagen lived in the neighbouring Khayelitsha area but worked in Nyanga, where he was attacked.
Authorities also confirmed that a post-mortem examination is being conducted by officials from South Africa’s Department of Health in line with the country’s legal procedures.
The police statement comes shortly after Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the killing of a Ghanaian national in South Africa, describing the incident as one linked to anti-immigrant demonstrations and xenophobic attacks in Khayelitsha.
However, SAPS says it has no official record of such an incident occurring 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.
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