South Africa: Five Mozambican Citizens Killed in Xenophobic Attacks

The Mozambican government confirmed on June 22 that five of its citizens were killed in 'xenophobic attacks' in South Africa over the weekend. These are the first officially confirmed deaths linked to a wave of protests against illegal immigration that is spreading across the country.

According to a statement from the Mozambican government, about 800 of its citizens were caught up in violence that erupted in the southern coastal city of Mossel Bay on June 19. The incident forced 300 Mozambicans to find their own way home on June 20.

'Regrettably, seven Mozambican citizens have died, of whom five are a direct result of xenophobic attacks, and the other two died in a road accident while traveling in private vehicles on their way back to Mozambique,' the statement said.

About 500 other affected people 'have been taken to a safe shelter in Western Cape province, and the repatriation process is underway,' the statement added.

South African police said on June 21 they were investigating the deaths of two men at an informal settlement in Mossel Bay, a port town about 380 km (236 miles) east of Cape Town. Police did not provide details and the nationalities of the two victims were not known.

District Mayor Dirk Kotze expressed 'deep concern and outrage at the current xenophobic attacks, where people are being killed, houses burned, and families displaced.'

South Africa has long been a destination for both documented and undocumented workers from across Africa. The country has experienced waves of xenophobic violence over the decades, often blaming illegal immigrants for crime and taking jobs from locals.

In 2008, 62 people, including 21 South African citizens, died in anti-immigrant riots and thousands were displaced. Other outbreaks followed in 2015 and 2016.

Xenophobic tensions have risen in recent months, coinciding with political parties seeking support ahead of local elections expected in November. A self-appointed citizens' group issued an ultimatum demanding the expulsion of illegal immigrants by June 30, with reports of people checking foreigners' papers and forcing small businesses run by non-South Africans to close. The actions have no official backing and have been condemned by authorities.

As tensions escalate, Ghana repatriated 300 of its citizens last week and plans to bring back hundreds more. Last month, hundreds of foreigners from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Somalia sought protection in the eastern port city of Durban, saying locals were going house to house telling them to leave by the end of the month.

Several African nations, including Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, have urged their citizens in South Africa to exercise caution. The Mozambican government said the situation remains unstable and is expected to worsen before June 30, and it is developing measures to support citizens still in South Africa.