Dozens of foreign nationals have reportedly fled their homes in the Jika Joe informal settlement in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, following the death of a Malawian national during an attack that authorities are investigating as murder.
The incident has heightened tensions in the area and sparked renewed concerns over the safety of migrants and foreign nationals living in South Africa, particularly amid growing anti-immigration sentiments in some communities.
According to local reports, the violence erupted shortly after an anti-immigration demonstration held in Pietermaritzburg’s city centre by the civic organisation March and March. The group reportedly organised the protest as part of its campaign against illegal immigration and called for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
Residents of the Jika Joe informal settlement alleged that the deceased, who lived in the community with his family, was chased by a group of people armed with sticks and stones before he was fatally attacked. Witnesses claimed the victim sustained serious injuries while attempting to escape.
Confirming the incident, KwaZulu-Natal Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police have opened a murder investigation following the death of a 29-year-old foreign national on Friday, June 19, 2026.
According to Netshiunda, preliminary investigations indicate that the victim was allegedly attacked by a group of individuals in the Sable Flats Manor area before fleeing towards the nearby Jika Joe informal settlement.
“Information available at this stage suggests that the deceased was allegedly attacked by a group of people at Sable Flats Manor but managed to escape and ran towards the Jika Joe informal settlement,” Netshiunda said.
He explained that reports received by investigators indicate that the victim slipped into a nearby river while trying to escape from his attackers.
“He was later found on the riverbed with a cut on the head and injuries to the mouth. Emergency personnel declared him dead at the scene,” the police spokesperson stated.
Netshiunda added that investigators are still working to establish the exact sequence of events that led to the attack and the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death.
“The circumstances that led to the attack and the subsequent death remain under investigation,” he said.
The police assured residents that security personnel have been deployed to monitor developments in the area and that the situation has largely been brought under control.
“The area is currently stable, and police continue to monitor the situation closely,” Netshiunda added.
Despite the police assurance, local ward councillor Suraya Reddy painted a more troubling picture of conditions within the community, saying fear and uncertainty remained widespread among foreign nationals living in the settlement.
According to Reddy, many migrants fled their homes during the unrest, abandoning personal belongings in an attempt to escape further violence.
“Many of them were attacked and were running without shoes or their possessions. Some sustained injuries, and we had to arrange temporary accommodation for them,” she said.
Reddy explained that the displaced persons are predominantly Malawian nationals who now require humanitarian assistance, medical treatment and safe shelter.
She further alleged that some of the injured migrants encountered difficulties obtaining treatment at government health facilities, prompting humanitarian organisations to arrange private medical care.
“We had to engage private healthcare providers because they were reportedly refused treatment at some public facilities,” she said.
According to the councillor, several non-governmental organisations have since coordinated emergency relief efforts and are working to relocate the displaced individuals to Durban, where they may be reunited with other members of the Malawian community who had previously been displaced by similar incidents.
“A network of NGOs is arranging transport to Durban, where we hope they can join other Malawians who were also forced to leave their homes,” Reddy said.
Describing the incident as deeply disturbing, she condemned the attacks and called for greater protection of vulnerable communities regardless of nationality.
“It is heartbreaking to witness such events. This represents a serious human rights concern, and we cannot stand by while people attack others because of where they come from,” she stated.
Residents who witnessed the unrest also described scenes of panic as families fled through the settlement seeking safety.
“It was a terrible sight seeing people running in fear. Even the children were traumatised by what happened,” one resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said.
Community members also alleged that the deceased’s brother sustained injuries during the incident, although authorities have not officially confirmed the report.
Meanwhile, Msunduzi Municipality Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla condemned the violence, describing the incident as unacceptable and warning against attacks targeting both foreign nationals and South African citizens.
The mayor said the events represented a broader humanitarian and security challenge that required urgent intervention from all levels of government.
“This is a crisis. Human rights are being violated, and human lives are being placed at risk, whether they belong to foreign nationals or South Africans,” Thebolla said.
He stressed that no grievance could justify the unlawful taking of human life.
“We cannot allow people to enter communities and take another person’s life. Violence can never be an acceptable solution to any dispute,” he added.
The incident has once again drawn attention to recurring tensions surrounding immigration in South Africa, where foreign nationals have periodically been targeted during outbreaks of xenophobic violence.
Police investigations into the murder remain ongoing, while authorities have appealed to members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement agencies as efforts continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
