Six Bangladeshis were killed in a fire at a supermarket in the labour area of Queenstown, South Africa, early Tuesday local time, according to relatives citing Bangladeshis in the country. Five of the dead were from Narayanganj’s Alirtek and Baktabali unions, while another was from Munshiganj. Grief spread through the villages of Middle Krokarchar, Tailkhirarchar and Kanainagar as families appealed for the bodies or remains to be brought home.

The victims were identified as Apon Ahmed, Fahim, Nur Mohammad, Faisal, Shahin and Razzak. Supermarket owner and Alirtek Union Parishad member Rowshan Ali said seven people had been sleeping in the shop’s residential room when the fire spread during the night. Six died at the scene and one injured person is receiving hospital treatment. Relatives said most of those killed were their families’ main earners.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, and local police are investigating, Rowshan Ali said. Relatives sought assistance from Bangladesh’s foreign ministry, the Bangladesh High Commission in South Africa and relevant authorities for repatriation. Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Raihan Kabir said officials would quickly contact the affected families once formal information is received from the embassy.

Six Bangladeshi nationals killed in a severe fire at a shop in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, have been identified. The fire broke out around 3 a.m. local time on Monday night, according to the report. Several Bangladeshis inside the shop were unable to escape and suffered burns, and six deaths were later reported at the scene.

Five of those killed were from Alirtek and বক্তাবলী unions under Fatullah police station in Narayanganj, while one was from Mir Kadim municipality in Munshiganj Sadar. The victims included Md Fahim, Apon Ahmed and Nur Mohammad from Kroker Char village in Alirtek, and Md Faisal from Toilkhirar Char village.

Md Shahin, from Kanain village in বক্তাবলী, was also among the dead. The sixth victim was Md Rajiq from Kalindipara village in Mir Kadim municipality. The report listed the victims' ages as 29, 23, 55, 26, 30 and 55 respectively. It did not provide the cause of the fire or information on subsequent actions.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami expressed deep grief over the deaths of six Bangladeshi citizens from Narayanganj in a major fire at a shop in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The fire occurred at about 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday. In a statement sent to the media on July 28, 2026, the party’s assistant secretary general and central publicity and media secretary, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, conveyed the condolences.

Zubair said the deaths of six expatriate Bangladeshis who had gone to South Africa in search of livelihoods were heartbreaking and painful. He said it was difficult to bear the grief of people dying in a fire while living far from home for work. He prayed for forgiveness for the deceased and expressed deep sympathy for their bereaved families.

He also prayed for the deceased to receive the status of martyrs and for their relatives to be given strength to endure the loss. Zubair wished a speedy and full recovery for another expatriate who was seriously injured and receiving treatment. He urged the Bangladesh government to take necessary diplomatic and administrative measures to return the bodies promptly, ensure proper treatment for the injured person, and provide financial assistance to affected families.

Six Bangladeshis were reported dead after a fire broke out at a shop in South Africa, casting a pall of mourning over Fatulla in Narayanganj. According to the report published on July 28, the blaze began at about 3 a.m. the previous night. Several Bangladeshis inside the shop were unable to escape and suffered burns, with six deaths later reported at the scene.

Ali Mia, father of victim Apon Ahmed from Alirtek Union, said his son and several others had died in the fire, adding that he did not yet know his son's condition clearly. Alirtek Union Parishad member Rowshan Ali said the victims were all relatives of one another and that the news had created an atmosphere of grief across the area.

Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Md Rayhan Kabir said reports and informal sources indicated that several Narayanganj residents had been killed, but authorities had not received an official list or confirmed information. Sadar Upazila Executive Officer SM Foyez Uddin said the foreign ministry had not sent an official message and no affected family had contacted the administration. Officials said necessary measures would follow once official information is received.

South African footballer Jayden Adams has died just weeks after returning home from the 2026 World Cup. The 25-year-old midfielder’s body was found on July 11 at a house in the Scottschekloof area of Cape Town. Authorities confirmed his identity, but the cause of death remains unknown. Police have opened an investigation into the incident.

South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, expressed deep sorrow, calling Adams one of the nation’s brightest young talents. He urged the public to avoid speculation until the cause of death is confirmed and asked for patience from Adams’s family and club. The South African Football Players Union described his passing as an irreparable loss for the country’s football community.

Adams played in all three of South Africa’s group matches at the 2026 World Cup, helping the team reach the knockout stage for the first time before losing to host nation Canada. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also extended condolences, calling the news deeply saddening.

Anti-immigration protests have escalated across South Africa, with demonstrators in Johannesburg conducting door-to-door searches for undocumented migrants on Thursday. Protesters in the Alexandra area reportedly broke into homes and handed over those without valid papers to police, including a Malawian woman and her child. Similar actions took place in Soweto and Durban, spreading fear among foreign residents.

The movement, led by former radio presenter Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has vowed to continue weekly protests until its demands are met. Organizers blame undocumented migrants for South Africa’s economic problems and are calling for stricter border control, mass deportations, and priority access to public services for citizens. Anti-immigrant sentiment has grown amid high unemployment, with some groups having set an informal June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged against blaming migrants for social and economic challenges, emphasizing the need to enforce immigration laws fairly. The unrest has already prompted more than 38,000 Malawians and 60,000 Zimbabweans to return home, according to their governments.

A Bangladeshi expatriate businessman, Belal Hossain alias Sumon from Begumganj upazila of Noakhali, was shot dead by armed assailants in Johannesburg, South Africa. The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in the Mayfair area, where Sumon was attacked inside his own business establishment. He sustained gunshot wounds to the head and neck and died on the spot.

According to local accounts, Sumon had been running a business in South Africa for the past 15 years and had visited Bangladesh a year earlier. His death has cast a shadow of grief over his home village in Noakhali. Begumganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shamsuzzaman said he learned of the incident from media reports and would contact the victim’s relatives for further information.

The report did not mention whether South African authorities have launched an investigation or identified any suspects in connection with the killing.

Police in South Africa have arrested more than 900 people during anti-immigrant protests held across the country. The arrests were confirmed on Wednesday following demonstrations on Tuesday, most of which remained peaceful. However, several areas experienced violence, looting, and gunfire. National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili said 120 marches took place nationwide, with police intervening in 12 of them to restore order.

Authorities reported that those detained face charges including illegal residence, incitement of violence, harboring undocumented migrants, and robbery. In Johannesburg’s Alexandra township, one person was killed during looting at small foreign-owned shops known locally as “spaza shops.” Additional police forces were deployed in five of the country’s nine provinces, and soldiers were stationed in Johannesburg’s Hillbrow area, where two people were injured in shootings.

Police also launched an investigation into the death of a foreign national in Durban, who reportedly jumped from a building before the protests began. The demonstrations were organized to mark a deadline set by an anti-immigrant movement demanding that undocumented migrants leave South Africa, amid rising anti-immigrant tensions in recent months.

Thousands of Malawian nationals are leaving South Africa following a surge in xenophobic violence targeting foreign workers. Many, including 27-year-old Janet Kapito, have returned home empty-handed after losing their belongings and livelihoods. The Malawian government has arranged buses to repatriate citizens before the June 30 deadline, while well-wishers have raised funds to support those stranded. According to local media, 6,936 Malawians have already returned, and authorities estimate around 10,000 remain at risk in South Africa.

Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs has activated a comprehensive response plan to ensure safe and dignified returns. South African authorities reported that 15,162 Malawians have been processed for deportation or repatriation. Many returnees said they had taken high-interest loans to migrate and are now struggling to repay them after losing jobs and property during the unrest. Some described hiding in open fields as violence escalated.

Community sources told Al Jazeera that xenophobic attacks often intensify around election periods. With unemployment high in Malawi, returnees face social stigma and economic hardship, and officials expect thousands more to arrive in the coming weeks.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has suspended South African midfielder Themba Zwane for three matches following his red card in the World Cup opening match against Mexico. The decision was announced after reviewing the severity of the foul committed during the game at Azteca Stadium, where South Africa lost 2–0 to the host nation. Zwane, aged 36, was sent off in the 84th minute for striking Mexican defender Roberto Alvarado in the face, just 20 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The match saw two red cards for South Africa, with midfielder Sphelele Sithole also dismissed earlier in the game, leaving the team with nine players. South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos accepted Sithole’s red card but expressed mild disagreement over Zwane’s dismissal, suggesting the incident might not have warranted such a severe punishment.

Under World Cup regulations, a red card typically results in a one-match suspension. However, FIFA extended Zwane’s ban to three matches due to the foul’s intensity, while confirming that the South African Football Federation retains the right to appeal the decision.

At least twelve people were killed and nine others injured in a shooting at a slum in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the night of June 10, 2026. Police said the attack occurred near a petrol station in the Cleveland area when ten suspects arrived in a white Toyota Quantum vehicle. The attackers entered the slum through two access points and opened fire on residents before fleeing in the same vehicle. Authorities have launched a search operation to locate the suspects, though the motive for the attack remains unclear.

According to police, eight men and three women died at the scene, while one person succumbed to injuries at the hospital. South Africa is among the countries with one of the highest murder rates globally, with an average of about sixty killings per day. Shootings in informal settlements are reported to be common, reflecting ongoing challenges with violent crime and public safety.

Police investigations are ongoing as authorities work to identify the perpetrators and determine the cause of the attack.

The South African national football team’s journey to the World Cup has been delayed indefinitely due to visa complications. The team was scheduled to board a chartered flight on Sunday to join their base camp in Pachuca, Mexico, but several players and staff members had not yet received their visas. As a result, the team was forced to postpone their flight, according to a Reuters report citing the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

Head coach Hugo Broos expressed frustration over the administrative failure ahead of such a major tournament. South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie also condemned the situation, calling it extremely embarrassing and unfair to the players. He warned that action would be taken against those responsible for the mishandling.

The World Cup is set to begin on June 11 with the opening match between host nation Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City.

Researchers have warned that whale-ship collisions are becoming increasingly likely off South Africa’s coast as global shipping routes shift due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. A study presented at a recent International Whaling Commission meeting found that the country’s southwest coast, known as a key whale habitat, has also become a major alternative maritime route.

The research noted that after a British-owned vehicle carrier was hijacked near Yemen in November 2023, many international vessels began avoiding the Red Sea and rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope. Instability and blockades in the Strait of Hormuz have further pushed shipping companies to use South African waters. Researcher Els Vermeulen said there is now significant spatial overlap between whale habitats and shipping lanes, heightening collision risks.

According to AFP, between March 1 and April 24 this year, an average of 89 commercial ships passed through South African waters daily, compared with 44 during the same period in 2023. Scientists fear the increased traffic could harm marine biodiversity, posing a serious threat to slow-moving species like whales.

A Bangladeshi expatriate named Suman, aged 35, from Abhirampur village in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail, was shot dead in South Africa. According to the report, the incident occurred on Saturday, May 9, when unidentified assailants opened fire at him while he was inside his car in the afternoon local time. He died on the spot, and the news of his death has cast a shadow of grief over his family and community.

Family sources said Suman was the son of Moiz Uddin and had been running a business in Newcastle, South Africa, for several years. The motive behind the killing remains unknown. Suman had returned to Bangladesh three years ago to get married and leaves behind a two-year-old son.

Following the news, police from Mirzapur station visited his home, and Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway.

A Bangladeshi expatriate businessman, Abu Naser Shamim, aged 50 and originally from Noakhali’s Companiganj upazila, was shot dead by armed assailants in front of his business establishment in the Bara area near Johannesburg, South Africa. The attack occurred around 5 p.m. local time on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, when the assailants held a pistol to his head and fired multiple rounds, killing him instantly. The incident has plunged his family and local community into mourning.

According to his son, Abu Rafsan Piyas, Shamim had first migrated to South Africa in 2007 and returned there after a brief stay in Bangladesh to expand his business. He reportedly owned four to five enterprises in South Africa. Recently, he had disputes with a business partner from Noakhali over the sale of a large shop, prompting him to install bulletproof glass and hire a security guard for safety. The murder occurred while he was speaking with the guard outside his shop.

Members of the Bangladeshi expatriate community expressed deep sorrow, while the victim’s family urged the government to ensure a proper investigation and repatriate his body to Bangladesh.