Five Mozambicans killed in South Africa xenophobic attacks

These are the first deaths officially linked to the ongoing protests against illegal migrants in the country. Approximately 800 Mozambican nationals were affected by the violence that erupted in Mossel Bay on Friday. The government statement also noted that two other Mozambicans died in a road accident while returning to Mozambique.

Following the violence, 300 Mozambicans returned home independently, while over 500 others were sheltered in the Western Cape Province, with their repatriation process to Mozambique commencing on June 1. South African police are investigating the deaths of two men in Mossel Bay, though they have not yet confirmed a link to the protests or the nationalities of the deceased. The mayor of the area, Dirk Kotze, expressed deep concern over the xenophobic attacks, which have resulted in murders, house burnings, and family displacement.

South Africa has a history of xenophobic violence, with significant outbreaks in 2008, 2015, and 2021, often fueled by economic frustrations and anti-immigrant rhetoric, particularly ahead of local government elections.