In brief
In Durban, a foreign national was stabbed and beaten to death by a mob of roughly 50 people, police say, amid a wave of xenophobic protests that have spanned the country. The unidentified victim, believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s, was approached by two men and then attacked by a larger group before being pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have opened an inquiry with motive still unclear while the government urges demonstrators to stay peaceful and acknowledges the need for immigration reform. The incident follows months of escalating tensions, with previous unrest leading to the burning of shops and cars in Durban and Soweto, and diplomatic protests from countries such as Nigeria and Ghana over violence against their citizens.
A man was beaten to death by a crowd of roughly 50 people in Durban, South Africa, police say, as anti‑immigrant protests have surged across the country.
The unidentified victim, believed to be in his late thirties or early forties, was first approached by two men by the roadside before a larger mob attacked him. Police declared the deceased dead at the scene and have launched an investigation with the motive still unspecified.
The death comes amid a wave of xenophobic unrest earlier this year. In mid‑September, shops and cars were set on fire in Durban and Soweto, and demonstrations have been marked by escalating hostility toward foreign nationals.
Provincial police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda told broadcasters that, for now, the motive cannot be speculated upon and that further details would be shared once verified.
The government has urged demonstrators to remain peaceful while acknowledging the necessity for immigration reforms. It says tens of thousands of foreign nationals have been deported or repatriated since the crackdown was launched earlier this year.
One of the clusters behind the protests, “March and March”, had set an early deadline of 30 June for all undocumented migrants to leave the country, sparking a series of clashes that saw several foreign nationals attacked. The incident triggered diplomatic tensions, with Nigeria accusing South African authorities of responsibility for the deaths of two of its citizens in October, and Ghana confirming the death of Bashiru Isak, a father of three, who was shot to death in Cape Town during demonstrations.
South Africa has struggled with xenophobic violence for almost two decades, noting that in 2008 hundreds were killed and thousands displaced during a nationwide attack on migrants. The latest violence follows widespread poverty, inequality, and unemployment that affect roughly a third of the workforce.
Despite the turmoil, South Africa remains a prime destination for migrants seeking work, safety and improved opportunities, though accusations that they take jobs or pressure public services remain unsubstantiated according to researchers.
Additional reporting by Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg
