South African police are investigating the murder of a 29-year-old Malawian national during a march against illegal immigrants at the Jika Joe Informal Settlement in Pietermaritzburg on Friday. Two other people were injured in the attack.
The protest, led by anti-immigrant group March and March, reportedly turned violent after a woman claimed that her relative had been killed by Malawians.
Following the attack, hundreds of Malawian nationals are now camping in Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal province. Another group has sought shelter in nearby Durban as repatriation efforts continue.
March and March has become increasingly vocal in recent months, coordinating mass protests nationwide. The group has issued a 30 June deadline for all undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa.
While the ultimatum has no legal backing, it has prompted thousands of people from other African nations — including Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, and Mozambique — to flee their communities.
Tensions are escalating ahead of planned anti-illegal immigrant demonstrations across the country on the 30th.
Law enforcement agencies have ramped up operational readiness across all nine provinces, with measures in place to protect communities, critical infrastructure, and public spaces.
The police minister has warned marchers that violence will not be tolerated and that no one is allowed to be armed during the protests.
Police say investigations into Friday’s killing are ongoing.
Source: Africanews
