Five Mozambican nationals were killed during weekend anti-immigration violence in Mossel Bay, marking the first official fatalities linked to a new wave of xenophobic protests sweeping across South Africa.
According to a Mozambican government press office statement, roughly 800 of its citizens were caught in the southern coastal town’s unrest, which broke out on Friday following a march against undocumented immigrants.
Two additional Mozambicans died in a road accident while fleeing. The statement warned that the situation remains volatile, adding that “given the volatility… a worsening of the current situation is expected.”
The violence erupted ahead of an unofficial June 30 deadline set by citizen-led vigilante groups demanding the expulsion of all irregular migrants, sparking widespread panic among foreign worker communities nationwide.
The escalating crisis has forced regional governments to intervene. Ghana repatriated 300 citizens last week, while Nigeria, Kenya, and Zimbabwe issued urgent safety advisories warning their nationals to exercise extreme caution.
South African authorities are facing intense regional pressure. Ghana has formally requested a debate on the attacks at the upcoming African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit in Cairo, scheduled for June 24.
South African police confirmed they are investigating the assault deaths of two men in a Mossel Bay informal settlement, though they have not officially verified the victims’ nationalities or protest links.
Mossel Bay Mayor Dirk Kotze expressed “deep concern and dismay at the current xenophobic attacks where people have been murdered, houses burned and families displaced,” as emergency repatriations commenced.
Analysts state the unrest reflects deep-seated economic anxieties regarding soaring domestic unemployment and crime. Political factions are actively weaponizing anti-migrant sentiment to garner public support ahead of South Africa’s November local government elections.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation stated it is improving immigration management capacity, noting, “We should never allow the legitimate concerns of our communities about illegal migration to breed prejudice.”
