A 19-year-old teenager from Dzingidzingi, outside Giyani in Limpopo, was allegedly stabbed to death on Sunday, 31 May 2026, after being mistaken for a foreign national during violent xenophobic attacks in Mossel Bay, Western Cape. Nhlamulo Sambo, a learner at Hillcrest Secondary School, was reportedly targeted by a group of people after he failed to speak isiZulu.
The attack happened during riots that tore through KwaNonqaba and Asla Park over the weekend. Witnesses say Sambo was confronted by a mob demanding he prove his nationality. When he could not respond in isiZulu, he was allegedly assaulted and stabbed multiple times. He died at the scene. Police have confirmed they are investigating a case of murder and public violence.
The unrest displaced hundreds of residents. Scores of people fled the area as homes were set alight during the violence. Mossel Bay Municipality said around 400 displaced people were moved into emergency accommodation it provided. Officials are still assessing damage to property and infrastructure in the affected wards.
The killing comes amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment across the country. Campaigns calling for foreigners to leave South Africa, including “March & March”, have been gaining visibility. Community leaders and anti-xenophobia organisations have condemned the violence, warning that language and nationality checks are being used to justify attacks on South Africans from other provinces as well as foreign nationals.
Limpopo Premier’s office and the Giyani community have called for calm and for justice for Sambo. Police say no arrests have been confirmed yet but investigations are ongoing. Human rights groups are urging authorities to act decisively to prevent further loss of life as tensions remain high in parts of Mossel Bay.
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