Durban foreign national killed
Xolani Dlamini|Published
Foreign nationals in Durban say they fear for their safety after a man was allegedly beaten to death by a mob of 50 people during a march in the city centre on Thursday.
KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netsiunda said no suspects had been arrested for the murder.
Netshiunda said the police were investigating a case of murder.
"A foreign national, believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s, was allegedly assaulted to death by a group of people. The information available at this stage suggested that a group of people was marching on Dr Pixley kaSeme Street towards Maud Mfusi Street. Two males reportedly pulled away from the group and approached a man who was on the roadside," he said.
Netsiunda said it was alleged that a group of about 50 people then assaulted the victim, who was declared dead at the scene.
An Ethiopian foreigner-national the owner of a shop in the Durban CBD, said he feared for his life after the incident.
"The news of murdered foreigner by the mob yesterday left me shocked. I am living in fear because I might be the next victim of these ongoing violent protests in the city," he said.
The business owner said he had been closing his shop at 3pm everyday since 14 vehicles were burned down in the city.
"I am so fearful for my safety and our lives, but most of all, the lives of my children. I have three children studying at Durban schools. Everyday, I close my shop at 3pm and go to fetch them from schools to ensure their safety," he said.
He said many people in Durban felt trapped between danger in the countries they fled and their growing fear in South Africa.
“To go back home means death for some of us, staying here is living in fear of being killed, that is our reality,” he added.
The owner of a shop on Dr AB Xuma street said the murder of the foreigner had left him reeling in fear.
"I am not a fearful person, but the recent murder incident made me question my existence in the city. It is no longer safe for us (foreigners) living in Durban. I have told my two 14 year old and 15 year old children to go straight home after school as they previously used to come and help with small things at the wholesale after school," he said.
He said this was to ensure the safety of children amid violent protests.
"I call on the South African government to offer a permanent solution to the violent protests in the city so that we will feel safe as foreigners. South Africans need to understand that not all foreigners in the country are illegal," he said.
Another foreign-national Mohammed Omari, urged residents to respect the lives of the foreigners living in Durban.
"Nobody has a right to take someone's life even if that person is an illegal foreigner. We are all human beings and we are all here with the intention of improving our lives. I cannot walk free in the city after the murder incident. I fear for my life because we are no longer safe here," said Omari.
He said poor South Africans and foreign nationals were being pitted against each other, while the underlying causes of poverty remained unaddressed.
“Foreigners are not the reason South Africa is poor. Killing foreigners or sending them away will not change the state of South Africa’s poverty, and it will not fix the economy,” he said.