Mozambique Confirms Five Citizens Killed In Mossel Bay Xenophobic Attacks As Repatriation Effort Begins

Mozambique has confirmed that five of its nationals were killed during xenophobic attacks in Mossel Bay over the weekend, marking the first deaths officially linked to a wave of anti-immigrant protests reported in several parts of South Africa.

The Mozambican government said approximately 800 of its citizens were affected by the unrest that erupted in the Western Cape coastal town on Friday. Authorities have since moved hundreds of those impacted to a place of safety as efforts to return them home continue.

According to a statement issued by the Mozambican government and received on Tuesday, seven Mozambican citizens lost their lives during the incident.

“Regrettably, seven Mozambican citizens have died, five of them as a direct consequence of the xenophobic attacks and the other two as a result of a road accident, when they were travelling in a private vehicle on their way back to Mozambique,” said the statement.

Mozambique Confirms Deaths In Mossel Bay Xenophobic Attacks

The Mossel Bay xenophobic attacks prompted a number of Mozambican nationals to leave South Africa over the weekend. Government officials said around 300 people returned to Mozambique by their own means on Saturday.

Authorities added that more than 500 others remain under protection in the Western Cape. Plans to transport them back to Mozambique have already been set in motion.

“The remaining just over 500 have since been sheltered in a safe location in the Western Cape Province, and as of today, 1 June, the process of their repatriation to Mozambique is already underway,” the statement said.

Police Investigate Deaths Linked To Mossel Bay Xenophobic Attacks

South African police confirmed on Sunday that they were investigating the deaths of two men at an informal settlement in Mossel Bay. The port town is situated about 380 kilometres east of Cape Town and has recently experienced anti-migrant violence.

Police have not yet confirmed whether the deaths are directly connected to the unrest. The identities and nationalities of the deceased also remain unclear.

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Mossel Bay Mayor Dirk Kotze expressed concern over the violence and its impact on residents in the area.

He voiced “deep concern and dismay at the current xenophobic attacks where people have been murdered, houses burned and families displaced”.

South Africa Faces Renewed Anti-Immigrant Tensions Ahead Of Elections

The Mossel Bay xenophobic attacks are part of a broader trend of anti-migrant demonstrations reported in areas including Johannesburg, Durban and parts of the Eastern Cape in recent weeks.

South Africa has experienced several outbreaks of xenophobic violence over the years. Major incidents in 2008 left dozens of migrants dead and forced thousands from their homes, while similar violence resurfaced in 2015 and 2021.

Many of those incidents were linked to economic pressures and political campaigns centred on anti-immigration messaging. The latest rise in tensions comes as political parties intensify campaigning ahead of local government elections scheduled for November.