Anti-immigration protests in South Africa have turned violent, with at least 24 vehicles set on fire and foreign-owned shops looted across Soweto and Durban. The unrest erupted days after the country's Constitutional Court struck down restrictions that had barred some migrants from applying for asylum. The protests occurred simultaneously in Soweto, a large township on the outskirts of Johannesburg, and Durban, a key port city on the country's east coast.
In Durban, protesters congregated outside a government refugee reception centre, demanding it cease processing asylum applications. Violence flared after allegations emerged that a foreign national had assaulted one of the demonstrators. Three foreign nationals were subsequently arrested in connection with the alleged assault. Police fired rubber bullets to break up the crowds as businesses across the city centre shut down as a precautionary measure.
Senior local police officer Xolani Fihla said there had been clashes between foreign nationals in the area and South African nationals, adding that no injuries had been confirmed at that stage. In Soweto, residents had initially gathered to pressure foreign nationals running small convenience stores to vacate the area. The protest deteriorated into attacks on shops and the torching of a building.
Acting national police commissioner Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane publicly condemned the destruction of property, and police said additional officers had been deployed to prevent further disorder. The unrest is directly linked to a July ruling by South Africa's Constitutional Court, which struck down restrictions that had previously barred certain individuals from applying for asylum based on how they entered the country or missed immigration deadlines.
The judgment requires authorities to accept asylum applications even from those who arrived without the required documents, prompting large crowds to form outside refugee reception centres and intensifying anger among anti-immigration campaigners. Government spokesman William Baloyi told Reuters that false claims about the ruling had been deliberately circulated, creating a misleading impression that undocumented migrants would automatically receive legal status.
Baloyi stressed that the judgment grants neither refugee status nor permanent residency, and that all applications will continue to be assessed individually with standard immigration checks applied. The Department of Home Affairs said its staff had been overwhelmed under the current compliance approach and announced that it would revise how it implements the ruling, though no specific details were provided.
Officials confirmed the revised approach would remain consistent with the Constitutional Court's judgement. South Africa has a long history of xenophobic violence, with attacks frequently targeting migrants from neighbouring countries. According to police, 14 vehicles were set ablaze in Durban and 10 in Soweto, where residents also reported gunshots during confrontations between local communities and foreign shopkeepers.
Key points
- At least 24 vehicles were set on fire during the anti-immigration protests in Soweto and Durban.
- The protests were sparked by a Constitutional Court ruling that allows asylum applications from individuals who arrived without required documents.
- The South African government has condemned the violence and deployed additional police to prevent further disorder.
