Overview
- Violent incidents in Mossel Bay over the weekend of May 29–31 saw mobs burn about 55 shacks, force foreign residents from homes and leave hundreds sheltering in community centres and temporary safe sites.
- Mozambique says five of its nationals were killed in the attacks while Western Cape police confirm two Mozambican deaths and have opened murder investigations, creating a sharp dispute over the true casualty count.
- Governments across the region have mounted evacuation operations, with Mozambique bussing and processing hundreds home, Ghana airlifting roughly 297 citizens, and Nigeria and Malawi arranging or planning repatriations.
- South African authorities have increased police and Natjoints deployments, President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned vigilantism, and officials say investigations and document checks are ongoing at border and screening points.
- The unrest is driven by long‑standing economic grievances, a circulated June 30 ultimatum from anti‑migrant groups and election‑period pressures, all of which raise the risk of further vigilante action and diplomatic strains.