South African police are investigating the killing of a foreign national by a crowd of about 50 people during a protest march in Durban on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The victim, a man believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s, was standing by the roadside when two men from the march approached him. He was then beaten by the crowd and declared dead at the scene. Police have not released his nationality and say the motive is still unknown, with no arrests yet.
The incident comes amid months of rising anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa. Protests demanding government action against undocumented migrants have spread across Durban and Johannesburg's Soweto township, sometimes turning violent.
Earlier this month, foreign-owned shops were looted and vehicles set alight in Soweto after demonstrations at a refugee reception centre. Thousands of migrants from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have fled affected communities.
Human rights groups have condemned the attacks, calling on President Ramaphosa's government to protect all residents. Police say they have increased patrols in Durban city centre and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify suspects involved in Thursday's killing.
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