Police in South Africa have started investigating the killing of a leader of an anti-migrant movement known as March and March.
The victim, Andile Mvuyelwa Somgxada, was the Gauteng provincial leader of the group. According to police, he was shot outside his home east of Johannesburg earlier this month. He was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries.
Following the incident, South African police have set up a special team to investigate the case.
A spokesperson for March and March, Sandile Dube, believes the attack may be linked to the group’s campaign against undocumented migrants in South Africa.
According to him, some leaders of the movement have recently received threats and warnings.
Dube believes the attack was a retaliation for the group’s campaign against undocumented migrants. He also called on authorities to investigate the killing and the threats facing members of the group.
South Africa’s Acting Police Chief, Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane, said police are treating the case seriously and are determined to find those responsible.
“We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding this murder and to ensure accountability,” she said.
The issue of immigration has become a major topic in South Africa in recent months. Many South Africans have complained about undocumented migrants, accusing them of putting pressure on public services and contributing to crime.
March and March has been leading demonstrations across the country, calling for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa. The group had earlier set June 30 as a deadline for undocumented migrants to leave and has promised to continue holding weekly protests.
According to the South African government, more than 53,000 foreign nationals have been deported or repatriated in the past five weeks as part of a migration management operation. Meanwhile, police have warned members of the public not to take immigration matters into their own hands.
On Tuesday, five people were arrested in Limpopo Province for allegedly pretending to be immigration officers and forcing foreign nationals to leave the area.
Police said the suspects intimidated a Nigerian businessman who was legally living in South Africa and forced him to close his business. Lt Gen Dimpane also warned against violence and intimidation directed at foreign nationals.
“The law applies equally to everyone,” she said.
South Africa is home to millions of foreign nationals from different African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi.
In recent weeks, some African countries have organised transport for citizens who wished to return home. Nigerian authorities say more than 1,200 Nigerians have already returned under a voluntary repatriation programme.
The investigation into the killing of Andile Mvuyelwa Somgxada is ongoing.
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