South African police have warned anti-immigration groups against taking the law into their own hands following the deaths of two Mozambican nationals during protests linked to illegal migration.
The victims died in the coastal town of Mossel Bay after a small demonstration against undocumented migrants on Friday, part of a series of protests held across several towns in recent weeks.
The Mozambican government had earlier stated that five of its citizens were killed in what it described as xenophobic attacks. However, South Africa’s security coordination authorities have disputed this figure.
Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili confirmed that the two Mozambican nationals died during activities associated with anti-foreigner demonstrations.
Authorities said the deaths were the first fatalities linked to a new wave of protests organised by fringe groups that accuse undocumented migrants of contributing to crime and placing pressure on jobs and public resources.
Mosikili stressed that law enforcement agencies would not tolerate any form of vigilante justice or unlawful conduct targeting foreign nationals.
Security forces, she said, would not allow any group to “take the law into its own hands, conduct unlawful operations, intimidate communities, target individuals based on their nationality”.
She added that “there is no grievance, concern, frustration or cause that can justify murder, assault, intimidation, arson, looting, xenophobic attacks or any other form of criminal conduct.”
“Violence is not activism. Intimidation is not community protection,” she said.
South Africa has experienced repeated waves of xenophobic violence over the past decades, and the latest unrest has seen vigilante groups ordering foreign nationals to leave certain communities by June 30.
Several African countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, have begun arranging repatriation plans for their citizens, while others such as Kenya, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have urged nationals in South Africa to remain cautious.
Authorities said dozens of arrests have already been made in connection with violence and intimidation against foreign nationals.
Mosikili disclosed that more than 5,000 undocumented foreign nationals have been arrested in the past three weeks alone.
She added that approximately 35,000 foreign nationals have been arrested since January for immigration-related offences.
Security officials say law enforcement operations will continue as authorities seek to restore order and prevent further escalation of tensions.
The situation has heightened concerns across the region, with governments closely monitoring developments and urging restraint on all sides to prevent further violence.
