Family says MK Party activist shot dead after anti-illegal immigration protest

Sphiwe Douglas Thusini, a 41-year-old activist from KwaMashu, was shot dead on Sunday shortly after taking part in protests against illegal immigration, his family says.

Attack described as ambush at home gate

Thusini, who lived in K Section, was allegedly photographed during demonstrations calling for the removal of undocumented foreign nationals. Family members say he was ambushed as he arrived home and opened his gate after returning from an anti-illegal immigration campaign in Ntuzuma.

His brother, Thabani Thusini, told Isolezwe that Thusini was an active uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) supporter and campaigned against illegal immigration through the organisation March and March. Thabani said that, according to information received by the family, a local man who collected “protection fees” from undocumented foreign nationals running spaza shops had targeted his brother.

“After my brother’s killing, we spoke to different people. They say my brother was targeted by a local man who charged illegal immigrants for protection. It is alleged that he was attacked because his leading role in the campaign against illegal immigrants was seen as a disruption,”

Thabani said those who shot Thusini had been hiding in the bushes and fired multiple bullets, striking him in the back. He described finding his brother lying face down on top of the gate key and said the police were already on the scene when he arrived.

“Cameras recorded everything that took place. The people who shot him were hiding in the bushes. As he arrived home and was about to open the gate, they shot him. Multiple bullets struck him in the back, and he fell face down. I found him lying on top of the gate key. By the time I arrived, the police were already there. I insisted on seeing him, turned him over and realised he was truly gone.”

Family appeal and community grief

Thabani said the family had been left devastated, particularly their elderly mother, who is still mourning another child who died in a car accident in 2024. He described Thusini as “deeply loved and respected” in the community.

“Even in the community, people welled up with tears. He was deeply loved and respected. People still cannot believe he is gone,”

Thabani said his brother consistently urged supporters to act peacefully during the campaign, insisting that “foreigners should not be assaulted or have their property destroyed, but should instead be told firmly to leave.” The family has called on KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and his team to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

Responses from March and March and the MK Party

Sandile Dube, spokesperson for March and March, expressed condolences and alleged that criminal syndicates profited from extorting protection money from undocumented foreign nationals. He warned of escalating threats against those advocating for undocumented foreign nationals to leave and said there have been “alarming incidents resulting in fatalities.”

“Since June 30, the level of threats against those advocating for illegal foreign nationals to go back home has escalated significantly. There have been alarming incidents resulting in fatalities. We want to emphasise that while you can kill an individual, you cannot kill the movement. It will continue,”

MK Party eThekwini regional spokesperson Mkhanka Nunu Zuma said it was too early to conclude whether Thusini’s killing was politically motivated. Zuma noted Thusini was a party leader in Ward 41, Curnick Ndlovu Zone, and a leader of an anti-illegal immigration group, and raised concern about the timing of the murder.

“We are aware that some businesses operated by undocumented foreign nationals are protected by criminal gangs that extort protection fees and are known to be ruthless. However, as the MK Party eThekwini region, we are deeply concerned about the timing of his killing.”

Zuma said the party placed its hope in the Political Killings Task Team and Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi to conduct a thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice, and called on government to accept responsibility for failing to effectively address illegal immigration.

Police investigation under way

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza confirmed that a murder case had been opened and was under investigation.