In brief
A crowd of about 50 men in Durban, South Africa, beat an unidentified foreign male to death, police say. The victim, estimated to be in his late 30s or early 40s, was first approached by two men and then assaulted by the larger mob before dying on scene. Investigators are exploring motives amid a wave of violent anti‑immigration protests that have already seen fires and property damage in Durban and Soweto. The incident follows a government crackdown on undocumented migrants, with the country deporting thousands and demanding all foreign nationals leave by the end of June.
A foreign national has been beaten to death by a crowd of about 50 in Durban, South Africa, police say.
Police report the unidentified victim, probably in his late 30s or early 40s, was first approached by two men on the roadside, then beaten by the larger mob and was pronounced dead on scene.
Investigators are still probing the motive and have called for calm amid a surge of xenophobic protests that have already seen fires set in Durban and Soweto.
Earlier this month, the South African government urged demonstrators to act peacefully while acknowledging the need for immigration reform after thousands of foreign nationals were deported or repatriated.
The violence is part of a broader crisis, with groups such as March & March demanding all undocumented migrants leave the country by 30 June, sparking attacks on people from other African nations.
Additional reporting by Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg.
