Durban Unrest: 3 Ethiopians Face Attempted Murder Charges After Allegedly Assaulting South African

• Kebede Belachew, Getachew Tirikaso, and Wodaje Girma appeared at the Durban Magistrate's Court
• The three Ethiopian men allegedly beat a South African with various weapons, breaking both his legs in the process
• The assault of the local man sparked violent unrest in Durban, as vehicles were torched and some shops looted

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

KWAZULU-NATAL — Three Ethiopian nationals appeared before the Durban Magistrate's Court, facing charges of attempted murder and public violence following an alleged assault during protests in the city on Thursday, 8 October 2026.

The accused, identified as Kebede Belachew, 38, Getachew Tirikaso, 48, and Wodaje Girma, 29, were charged at Durban Central South African Police Station. Police allege that the three men, acting with common purpose, beat a man with sticks, stones and a bushknife, and also kicked and punched him, leaving both his legs broken.

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The state contends they intended to kill the victim. The three men were remanded into custody at Durban Central SAPS for address verification, further investigation and verification of their Home Affairs status. They are scheduled to reappear in court on 19 October 2026.

Their appearance also drew the attention of March and March leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, who took to social media to draw attention to it.

The assault sparked the Durban unrest

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a group were marching to join the March and March members outside the Home Affairs Durban Refugee Reception Centre offices on Che Guevara Road, when the man was assaulted.

"It is not yet clear what sparked the alleged assault," Netshiunda said.

The assault on the local man by foreign nationals triggered widespread unrest across the CBD. Vehicles were set alight, several shops were looted, and several properties were also torched. Prior to the incident, protests had remained largely peaceful, with residents demonstrating against a Constitutional Court ruling relating to asylum seekers.

Phakel’umthakathi calls for calm in Durban

Nkosikhona Phakel’umthakathi Ndabandaba called for calm amid the escalating violence in the Durban Central Business District.

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Briefly News reported that shops were looted, vehicles torched, and several people were arrested during the unrest.

Speaking from the scene of the chaos, Ndabandaba warned leaders against inciting community members to commit acts of destruction.

Source: Briefly News