Staff Reporter
KwaZulu-Natal police have taken five men in for questioning in connection with the murder, attempted murder and assault of foreign nationals during protests in Durban this week.
The men, aged between 19 and 46, were taken in on Friday afternoon during ongoing protests outside the Department of Home Affairs offices on Che Guevara Road in Berea.
“Information at hand at this stage suggests that the five persons can assist police in solving cases in which a foreign national was assaulted in the Durban CBD on Wednesday afternoon, a case of murder of a foreign national who was assaulted to death in the Durban CBD on Thursday morning, as well as a case of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm where two foreign nationals were allegedly assaulted by a group of people who were marching in Berea, also on Thursday morning,” KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said on Friday.
The incidents took place as protests involving groups demonstrating against illegal foreign nationals – including March and March – were taking place. On Friday, there was again sporadic violence in and around the city as protestors demonstrated.
Netshiunda said the five men were being processed, but did not say whether they had been formally arrested or charged.
Police investigations are continuing, with officers pursuing other individuals believed to have been involved in violence and criminal activities during the marches.
