Mob violence Pietermaritzburg kills Malawian, displaces many

A Malawian national was killed and hundreds of others have been displaced in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, following mob violence that erupted after an anti-immigration march on Friday, June 19. The attack has prompted a growing humanitarian response as displaced individuals gather at a temporary site, awaiting repatriation.

Police are investigating the murder of a 29-year-old Malawian man who was found dead near the Jika Joe informal settlement with head injuries. The violence broke out after a march organized by the group March and March, which campaigns against undocumented foreign nationals. Witnesses reported that a woman addressed the crowd, alleging her relative had been killed by Malawians earlier in the week. After the march concluded, a group proceeded to the Jika Joe settlement, where foreign nationals were assaulted with sticks and sjamboks, leaving two others seriously injured.

The attack has forced hundreds of Malawian nationals, including women and children, to flee their homes. Many have sought refuge at the Mayors Walk grounds in the city center. The Msunduzi Municipality stated the site is not an official accommodation facility but has mobilized support due...