Two Zimbabwean nationals were killed by a mob in Laudium, Pretoria, after being accused of attempted robbery. The residents, armed with stones and logs, claimed the men were part of a criminal gang terrorizing the area.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and paramedics were slow to respond, arriving hours after the victims had already died from their injuries.
Vigilantism and xenophobic violence are frequent in South Africa’s informal settlements and high-density areas, where immigrants are often blamed for rising crime and unemployment. These accusations are typically based on unfounded claims.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of violent crime globally, with daily killings exceeding those in some war-torn regions. Despite the support given to South Africa by neighboring countries during apartheid, immigrants from these nations now face hostility and violence.
The anger toward African migrants distracts from the larger issue of economic inequality, where a small white minority still controls the majority of the wealth. Until South Africa addresses these systemic issues, the cycle of violence and scapegoating will persist.
