Foreign national beaten to death by crowd during Durban street march

A foreign national believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s was beaten to death by a crowd of about 50 people on Dr Pixley kaSeme Street in the Durban CBD on Thursday morning, 22 October 2026.

The South African Police Service said a group of people was marching along the street towards Maud Mfusi Street when two men broke away from the group and approached the man, who was standing on the roadside. He was then assaulted by the crowd and declared dead at the scene, Reuters reported.

Police opened a murder case. KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said investigators were following several leads and using all investigative aids to identify the suspects. “Police are following several leads and using all investigative aids to identify possible suspects,” the SAPS said, according to The Citizen. Police have not confirmed the man’s name or nationality.

The motive for the killing is unknown, and police cautioned the public against speculating or spreading unverified information about the incident as the investigation unfolds, IOL reported. A security guard, who asked to remain anonymous, told GroundUp the group was targeting immigrants, the Daily Maverick reported.

The killing follows months of anti-migrant protests in South Africa, some of which have turned violent. Violence erupted on Dr Pixley kaSeme Street two weeks ago during a march by anti-immigrant protesters, and a Ugandan man was assaulted by a mob in Durban on Wednesday, 21 October, according to the Daily Maverick.

Sources

• Reuters: South African police investigate killing of foreign national by crowd — reuters.com
• IOL: Foreign national beaten to death in Durban CBD — iol.co.za
• Daily Maverick: Mob beats immigrant man to death in central Durban (first published by GroundUp) — dailymaverick.co.za
• The Citizen: Durban CBD murder — police investigate killing of foreign national — citizen.co.za