Mozambique has said five of its nationals were killed during violent “xenophobic attacks” in South Africa over the weekend, as tensions over undocumented migration continue to escalate in parts of the country.
The Mozambican government also said efforts were underway to repatriate hundreds of its citizens affected by the unrest in the Western Cape Province.
However, South African police said only two Mozambican nationals were confirmed killed in violence in the coastal town of Mossel Bay, about 380 kilometres east of Cape Town, marking the first fatalities officially linked to the latest wave of anti-migrant tensions.
In a statement issued on Monday, Mozambique’s government media office said seven Mozambican citizens died following the outbreak of violence on Friday. It added that five of the deaths were directly linked to xenophobic attacks, while two others resulted from a road accident as victims attempted to return home.
South African police, however, said the two confirmed Mozambican victims, aged 27 and 43, died from multiple injuries sustained during an assault at an informal settlement in Mossel Bay. Police also reported the killing of an 18-year-old South African in the same area, under unclear circumstances.
Local authorities said dozens of informal homes were torched during the unrest. Mossel Bay Mayor Dirk Kotze expressed “deep concern and dismay” over the violence, including reports of killings, arson and displacement of families.
Reports from South African media indicated that tensions in the area were triggered by allegations that undocumented migrants were being employed by construction companies, fuelling protests that later turned violent.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported that around 55 shacks were burned in the clashes. Witnesses described scenes of panic as residents fled burning homes.
“I just took what I could and I ran,” Mozambican national Dolinda Mabunda was quoted as saying, describing how her home was set on fire while she was still inside.
Another migrant, Silvino Chauque, told SABC he had lost all his belongings and planned to return home, saying: “We are not safe.”
Mozambique said more than 300 of its nationals had already returned home, while over 500 others were being sheltered in a safe location in the Western Cape as repatriation efforts continued.
The violence comes amid a broader rise in anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa, where undocumented foreign nationals are often accused by some groups of competing for jobs and contributing to crime.
Authorities said there had been increasing reports of vigilante groups checking migrants’ documents and forcing foreign-owned businesses to shut down, although such actions have no official backing and have been widely condemned.
Similar tensions have been reported in other parts of the country in recent weeks, prompting several African governments, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, to advise their citizens in South Africa to exercise caution.
South Africa has a long history of periodic xenophobic violence, including deadly outbreaks in 2008, 2015 and 2016, which left dozens dead and displaced thousands.
The latest unrest comes ahead of local government elections scheduled for November, as political tensions and social grievances continue to rise in parts of the country.
