Noluthando Mchunu
Police in KwaZulu-Natal have opened a murder case for investigation following the alleged fatal assault of a foreign national by a group of people in Durban.
It is alleged that a group of people were marching along Dr Pixley kaSeme Street towards Maud Mfusi Street when two men broke away from the group and approached a man standing on the roadside.
The victim was allegedly assaulted by a group of approximately 50 people and was declared dead at the scene.
Police spokesperson Robert Netsiunda has confirmed that a murder case has been opened for investigation.
“Police are following several leads and using all investigative aids to identify possible suspects.”
“The motive of the killing is unknown at this point and communities are urged not to spread unverified information,” said the KZN SAPS spokesperson.
Click below to listen to Netsiunda’s audio..
This incident follows a continued eruption of protest action in the Durban CBD since the department of Home Affairs ordered a directive for the implementation of the new asylum seeker application regulations.
On the ninth of October the KZN SAPS reported that three foreign nationals were allegedly arrested for assaulting a South African who was involved in a march in Durban CBD.
According to SAPS, this particular incident is what may have lead to the rioting and torching of over 10 vehicles and shops owned by foreingers.
Home Affairs later withdrew its directive following public resistance through violent protest actions mainly in Durban and Soweto, Gauteng.
Nonetheless, anti-illegal immigration protests persisted in Durban with a few cases of torching of buildings reported in the past three weeks.
This incident highlights a growth in tensions between locals and foriegn nationals situated in the Durban CBD.
