Hundreds of foreign nationals, mainly from Malawi and Mozambique, have taken refuge in community halls along South Africa’s south coast after fleeing violent anti-migrant attacks in several towns.
Many of those affected told AFP they had escaped their homes over the weekend following reports of mobs moving door-to-door, ordering foreigners to leave the country.
A Mozambican resident, Thomas Vincent Baloyi, said attackers told him he did not belong in South Africa and rejected his claim of legal residency, forcing him and others to hide in nearby bush areas overnight.
The unrest escalated in Mossel Bay, about 250 kilometres from Cape Town, where 55 informal dwellings were set ablaze during protests targeting undocumented migrants. South African police confirmed that two Mozambican nationals were killed during the violence, though Mozambique authorities claimed the death toll was higher.
Authorities said the latest unrest followed weeks of small protests by groups accusing undocumented foreigners of taking jobs and contributing to crime. Some fringe organisations had issued ultimatums demanding that migrants leave the country by a set date.
Reports indicated that armed groups carrying sticks, whips and other weapons had gone through settlements ordering foreign nationals out of their homes, with allegations that some operations were carried out alongside police presence, though this has not been independently verified.
Local officials said more than 500 people fled their homes in Gansbaai alone, with many losing personal belongings and documents during the chaos.
In makeshift shelters, displaced migrants described hiding in mountains and bushes before seeking refuge in community centres and mosques, where they are now surviving on donated food and basic facilities.
Some affected individuals said they had no option but to consider returning home, despite losing their possessions, as they feared for their lives amid continuing tensions.
Government officials have reportedly begun assisting with documentation and voluntary repatriation efforts as the situation develops.