A violent anti-immigrant mob in Pretoria issued threats to burn down shops and harm immigrant families, mainly women and children, on October 9. The protesters, armed with sticks and sjamboks, gathered outside the Refugee Reception Office in Marabastad, vowing to prevent immigrants from accessing services. They claimed some police officers supported their cause.
The anti-immigrant groups, including Operation Dudula and the United Progressive People’s Alliance Party, chased immigrants, threw water bottles, and spat at them while police did not intervene. The crowd later moved to Luttig Street, where many immigrant-owned shops were forced to close. Some residents, including South Africans, tried to defend the shop owners, but the situation turned volatile with threats of physical harm and death.
A GroundUp reporter was assaulted and had his phone taken during the altercation. The crowd dispersed when four police officers arrived to separate the protesters and shop owners. Police reported that several demonstrations had occurred at Refugee Reception Offices over the past few days, but this was the first time shops had been forced to close.
The violence was part of a larger backlash against the reopening of asylum offices nationwide, following a Constitutional Court ruling in July. Home Affairs had announced that its offices would start accepting new asylum applications again, but online misinformation contributed to the harassment of asylum seekers at the offices.
The unrest led Home Affairs to close its offices due to the oversubscription of refugee offices and anti-immigrant violence. An internal Home Affairs memorandum stated that the September 28 directive had led to unintended consequences, citing national interest, security considerations, and impracticality.
The violence also occurred in Durban, where fourteen cars were set alight and businesses were vandalized and looted by hundreds of people, including members of March and March. The group targeted people suspected of being immigrants, and many shops remained closed on Friday morning.
Immigration activists and business owners condemned the violence, with some calling for the government to revert to online applications to avoid confrontation between xenophobic groups and asylum seekers. The Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town, which brought the Constitutional Court case, decided not to speak to the media due to safety concerns.
Key points
- The anti-immigrant violence in Pretoria and Durban forced the closure of Refugee Reception Offices nationwide.
- The violence was sparked by the reopening of asylum offices following a Constitutional Court ruling in July.
- Immigration activists and business owners are calling for a solution to prevent further confrontation between xenophobic groups and asylum seekers.
