Mob beats foreign national to death in South Africa's Durban
Police say about 50 people attacked a man standing by a roadside in Durban's central business district amid months of anti-migrant protests.
At a glance
- Police say about 50 people beat a foreign national to death in Durban's central business district; he was declared dead at the scene.
- The victim was in his 30s or early 40s; police have not released his nationality and are still identifying suspects.
- Durban has seen months of anti-migrant protests, and tens of thousands of migrants have left South Africa in recent months.
A mob of about 50 people beat a foreign national to death in the South African port city of Durban, police said, amid a wave of anti-immigrant tension and marches.
According to a police statement, the group approached the man as he stood by the side of a road in Durban's central business district. He was allegedly assaulted by the group and was declared dead at the scene.
Police said the victim was in his 30s or early 40s. They did not release his nationality or give details of the march, and said they were still working to identify suspects in the attack.
Durban at the centre of the protests
Durban has been at the epicentre of months of demonstrations against foreign nationals. Looting and violence broke out after an anti-migrant march in the city two weeks ago.
Demonstrations calling for government action against African migrants who entered the country without documentation began in June, and some have escalated into violence.
Nigeria, Mozambique, Malawi and other countries have said some of their citizens were killed in xenophobic attacks in South Africa. South African authorities have disputed some of those accounts, saying some of the deaths were linked to criminal activity.
Migrants leave in large numbers
Tens of thousands of migrants have left South Africa in recent months, in what has been described as one of the largest mass exoduses in years, to escape the violence. The government has also said many were deported for not having the required papers to be in the country.
South Africa is Africa's largest economy, and migrants have moved there seeking opportunities. Communities in the country say there are not enough jobs and that public services are overburdened.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has denounced anti-migrant violence but acknowledged that weak border control systems have allowed undocumented migrants to travel to and stay in the country. Government figures show about 2.4 million foreign nationals living among South Africa's population of 62 million.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- What happened in Durban, South Africa?
- Police say a mob of about 50 people beat a foreign national to death as he stood by the side of a road in Durban's central business district. He was declared dead at the scene.
- Why are there anti-migrant protests in South Africa?
- Demonstrations calling for government action against African migrants who entered the country without documentation began in June. Communities say there are not enough jobs and public services are overburdened.
- How many foreign nationals live in South Africa?
- Government figures cited by Al Jazeera put the number at about 2.4 million foreign nationals in a population of 62 million.
