MOSSEL BAY — Five Mozambican nationals were killed in xenophobic attacks in Mossel Bay, South Africa, over the weekend, according to the Mozambican government. About 800 Mozambican citizens were caught in the violence that erupted in the port town on Friday, with seven deaths reported in total—five from the attacks and two from a road accident during their return journey to Mozambique.
The violence prompted 300 Mozambicans to return home by their own means on Saturday. The remaining 500 affected nationals have been sheltered in a secure location in South Africa’s Western Cape province, and their repatriation to Mozambique is underway.
South African police said on Sunday they were investigating the deaths of two men at an informal settlement in Mossel Bay but did not provide details about their identities or nationalities. Mossel Bay Mayor Dirk Kotze voiced “deep concern and dismay at the current xenophobic attacks where people have been murdered, houses burned and families displaced.”
The Mozambican government described the situation in South Africa as volatile and anticipated it would worsen before 30 June. It said it is working on measures to support its citizens still in the country.
Anti-migrant sentiment has been rising in South Africa for months, coinciding with political parties campaigning ahead of local government elections scheduled for November. A citizen-led group recently issued an ultimatum demanding that undocumented migrants be expelled by 30 June. There have been reports of groups checking foreign nationals’ documentation and forcing businesses owned by non-South Africans to close, though authorities have stated these actions lack official backing and have been criticized by officials.
Mossel Bay is located about 380 kilometers east of Cape Town. Similar anti-migrant protests have been reported in recent weeks in Johannesburg, Durban, and parts of the Eastern Cape province.