South African police have launched a murder investigation after a foreign national was allegedly beaten to death by a crowd of about 50 people in Durban amid heightened anti-immigrant tensions....
South African police have launched a murder investigation after a foreign national was allegedly beaten to death by a crowd of about 50 people in Durban amid heightened anti-immigrant tensions.
The victim, believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s, was declared dead at the scene on Thursday morning in the central business district of the coastal city.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the incident occurred as a group of people marched along Dr Pixley kaSeme Street towards Maud Mfusi Street.
According to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, two men reportedly broke away from the marching group and approached the victim, who was standing by the roadside.
“The victim was then assaulted by a group of about 50 people and he was declared dead at the scene,” the police said in a statement.
Police said the motive for the killing remained unknown and that investigators were pursuing several leads to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Authorities also urged members of the public not to spread unverified information about the incident.
The victim’s nationality has not been disclosed.
The incident comes amid months of anti-immigrant protests in South Africa, some of which have degenerated into violence, attacks on foreign-owned businesses and the destruction of property.
Earlier this month, demonstrations in Durban and Soweto, Johannesburg, turned violent, with vehicles set alight and foreign-owned shops looted.
The protests were linked to opposition to the processing of asylum applications at a refugee reception centre, following a court ruling that expanded access to the asylum system.
The unrest has attracted international criticism and heightened concerns about the safety of migrants from other African countries living in South Africa.
In June, a 29-year-old Malawian national was allegedly stoned to death during an anti-immigrant march in Pietermaritzburg, also in KwaZulu-Natal province.
The latest killing is likely to renew concerns about the vulnerability of foreign nationals amid growing anti-immigration sentiment in parts of the country.
Police have yet to establish whether Thursday’s killing was directly linked to anti-immigrant protests.
Investigations are continuing, and no suspects had been publicly identified in the initial police account.