The South African returnee said he has a bullet lodged in his spinal cord
A Ghanaian Bolt and Uber driver, Victor Atsu Togo, has recounted how he survived violent xenophobic attacks in South Africa that left him with a bullet still lodged in his spine.
He has now returned home and reunited with his family in Ghana after years of working in South Africa, following his evacuation by the government as part of a group of 300 Ghanaians brought back from South Africa.
Boycott all South African businesses in Ghana - Kofi Bentil tells government
According to him in a video sighted by GhanaWeb, on May 28, 2026, he lived and worked in South Africa for about 16 years, operating as a ride-hailing driver and also working in a hotel.
He explained that life was difficult, but he kept pushing until the attacks changed everything.
“My name is Victor Atsu Togo, and I'm from South Africa. I was working as a ride-hailing driver on Bolt and Uber, and also working in a hotel as a driver. I've been there for 16 years,” he said.
He described the conditions he faced while living in South Africa, saying the work was tough and demanding, but he refused to give up.
“[Life] was very tough and tedious. In life, you don't give up; you have to keep pushing. Remember, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. So I wasn't giving up in life, but at this moment, I then decided to give up because of the xenophobic attack,” he stated.
Victor said the attacks were driven by anger from some South Africans who believed foreigners were taking their jobs.
“This sort of xenophobic attack is all about South Africans saying that we foreigners are taking their jobs so we must go back home.
“Some of the experiences were that those times I was doing Uber, they hijacked me, and they shot me many times but then by the grace of God, I was able to have a sustainable life,” he recounted.
He disclosed that he is still living with a bullet in his spine and may need surgery, but says he is grateful to be alive.
“As I'm speaking to you, I still have a bullet in my spine, which I need to do some sort of operation but then I'm feeling better by the grace of God. So those are some of the experiences that I went through,” he shared.
Pregnant Ghanaian woman, disabled son, detained for over a week at US airport
He also expressed gratitude after returning to Ghana, saying he is hopeful about government support for returnees.
“I need to enjoy the fact that I'm home and I'm so happy that the president is ready to do some sort of facilitating for us so that we can be able to enhance our performances. So the president promised to give us a job and also give us some capital for us to use it for our businesses. So that is something which I'm much grateful for,” he added.
“I was shot and still have a bullet in my spinal cord, but thanks to God I’m still alive.”
— TheeNewsRoom (@TheeNewsRoom) May 28, 2026
— A Ghanaian Bolt driver and returnee from South Africa emotionally recounts surviving xenophobic attacks after safely returning home and reuniting with his family in Ghana. pic.twitter.com/5m9lyHO36P
Copyright © 1994 - 2026 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
