Durban protests: Ahmed Kathrada Foundation condemns 'mob' killing of foreign national

On Thursday morning, a foreign national in his late 30s or early 40s was allegedly beaten to death by a group of around 50 people during a violent march in Durban, South Africa. The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that the victim was assaulted by a mob along Dr Pixley KaSeme Street and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The police stated that they would follow several leads and utilize all investigative resources to identify the possible suspects in the case. This incident occurred amidst months of protests against illegal immigrants in Durban, with instances of looting and violence occurring earlier this month. Despite the Home Affairs department withdrawing a directive related to asylum seeker applications on September 28th, South Africans continued to protest near Home Affairs offices, expressing their anti-illegal immigrant sentiments.

Following the directives, the KZN police detained five persons of interest during protests outside the Home Affairs offices on Che Guevara Road in Umbilo on Friday afternoon. The detained individuals, aged between 19 and 46, were taken into custody to aid in the investigation of the murder, attempted murder, and assault of foreign nationals during the protests in Durban's CBD on Wednesday.

Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a spokesperson for the SAPS, mentioned that the five men could provide valuable assistance in solving these cases.

In addition to the five detained males, a separate incident occurred on Thursday morning when a group of people marching in Berea allegedly assaulted two migrants. The persons of interest are currently being processed at a police station, and the KZN police assured that further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses. Ongoing investigations are underway, with the SAPS pursuing additional individuals believed to have been involved in acts of violence and other criminal activities during the marches.