XENOPHOBIA IN SOUTH AFRICA: African migrants flee into mountains as violence surges
A fresh wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa has forced scores of African immigrants to flee into the mountains and seek refuge in local community centers, as anti-immigrant mobs tighten their grip on coastal towns across the Western Cape province.
The targeted attacks, which have escalated sharply in recent weeks, have once again exposed the deep-seated tensions surrounding immigration in the country.
Forced to flee into the wilderness
For 49-year-old Mozambican immigrant Lado Amido, the nightmare began four days ago when an angry crowd knocked on his door in the coastal town of Kleinmond, ordering all foreigners to leave.
“On the 31st, people came to my house, knocked on the door, and then took all my belongings,” Amido told reporters.
Amido, who arrived in South Africa in February 2026 in search of employment, spent two terrifying nights hiding in the mountains before finding temporary shelter at a local town hall. He is not alone. Nearly 100 immigrants from Malawi and Mozambique are currently crammed into the Kleinmond town hall, many hoping for voluntary repatriation programs to take them back home.
A similar story of survival was shared by Michael Markson, a 31-year-old Malawian who had been living in an informal settlement for a year.
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“My landlord came telling me that I should evacuate because if they find us, they’re going to kill us,” Markson said. He fled into the woods on Saturday, sleeping in the mountains while his boss secretly brought him food. Markson recalled seeing large crowds of protesters patrolling the town, armed with knives and sticks.
Now waiting for financial assistance to return to Malawi, Markson reflected bitterly on his plight, “In our country, there’s no good economy… [but] it’s better than living in a community where your life is under threat.”
The violence has already turned deadly. The Mozambican government confirmed that at least five of its citizens were killed over the weekend during xenophobic attacks in Mossel Bay, a town located about 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Kleinmond.
Xenophobic violence remains a recurring crisis in South Africa. Immigrants are routinely scapegoated for the country’s severe economic challenges, including skyrocketing unemployment and high crime rates.
Despite a lack of empirical evidence linking immigrants to these systemic issues, political figures across the spectrum frequently leverage anti-immigrant rhetoric to win populist votes—particularly ahead of local government elections scheduled for the end of the year.
Addressing parliament on Tuesday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the latest outbreak of violence but maintained a focus on enforcement.
“As we work to build a safer… and more prosperous society, we need to address the challenge of migration,” Ramaphosa stated.
While local authorities have recently stepped up raids on businesses to check for undocumented workers, local officials point out that the violence is indiscriminately targeting legal residents, including children.
Grant Cohen, a local ward councillor for Kleinmond, confirmed that many of those currently sheltering at the town hall entered and reside in South Africa legally.
“We’ve got kids here at the moment who should be in school, who have been in school in Kleinmond… [but] now want to flee the country out of fear and intimidation,” Cohen said, adding firmly: “I don’t believe that residents should take things into their own hands.”
As displacement grows and fear spreads through the immigrant community, pressure is mounting on both the South African government and African regional bodies to intervene before more lives are lost.
Bokamoso Lesedi reported for NigerianSketch.com from Durban
