Crowd kills foreign national in Durban as motive remains unclear

A foreign national was beaten to death by a crowd of about 50 people in Durban, South Africa, police say. The killing comes amid a rise in protests against immigrants, some of which have become violent, but police say the motive has not been established.

The unidentified man, believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s, was approached by two men before a larger group assaulted him; he died at the scene. South Africa has deported or repatriated tens of thousands of foreign nationals during a crackdown, while earlier attacks prompted Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ghana to take steps to repatriate citizens. The unrest unfolds amid high unemployment, poverty and inequality, and researchers say broad claims that migrants take jobs or drive crime are not supported by evidence.