Fact Check Twitter Post on crime scene xenophobia

Eyewitness News reported that Malawian nationals clashed with police at Sherwood in Durban during a deportation process.

Sinawo Thambo criticized the report on X/Twitter, questioning who gave the media house authority to declare an active crime scene. The underlying news report is factually true. 

Major unrest occurred on June 17, 2026, when a crowd refused verification procedures, threw stones at officers, and damaged vehicles. Sinawo Thambo is technically accurate about the semantics.

Only law enforcement officials have the legal power to formally declare a crime scene. However, journalists commonly use the phrase informally to describe live situations where criminal public violence is occurring.