Two Mozambican nationals were killed during violent clashes in Mossel Bay, South Africa, following protests that accused foreign workers of taking local jobs, officials said [1]. The unrest erupted in late May 2026 after a protest targeting foreign nationals, mainly Mozambicans, who were blamed for high unemployment among locals [1].
The violence destroyed 55 homes and forced approximately 600 Mozambicans to flee across the border back into Mozambique, fleeing attacks and unrest in the area [1]. In addition to Mozambicans, about 100 foreign nationals from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe took shelter in a community hall in Mossel Bay days after the violence subsided [1].
Seventeen South African residents, particularly from ethnic groups such as Tsonga and Shangaan, were also displaced or forced to leave their homes. One local woman said attackers told her, “They said (they are coming) to destroy the house because, ‘you were staying with a Shangaan’. They said they don’t care about IDs. Now it seems like nobody is safe.” [1]
On the night the two Mozambicans were killed, a 19-year-old South African was fatally stabbed. His stepfather linked the killing to ongoing ethnic tensions in the community [1].
Ernest Sithole, a local official, confirmed that “Seventeen South Africans were chased away from their house” amid the unrest [1]. The violence has highlighted strained relations between foreign migrants and some local communities in Mossel Bay.
By early June 2026, the unrest had settled but left lasting damage on the town’s social fabric and infrastructure. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide assistance to displaced families and foreign nationals sheltering in communal facilities [1].
