A tense standoff between police and anti-illegal immigration activists occurred at the Home Affairs Durban Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road in South Africa. On October 8, 2026, police advised hundreds of migrants waiting outside the office to leave the area due to increasing security concerns. Some groups were calling for the migrants to leave the country.
The anti-illegal immigration groups, including March and March, have been demonstrating at the Home Affairs offices, demanding stricter measures against undocumented migrants. They claim that many individuals in the country have been there for years without applying for refugee status, labeling them as economic migrants rather than refugees.
According to Xolani Zuma, head of legal for March and March, the group wants the law to be enforced. He stated that thousands of people have been in the country for years without applying for refugee status, which they believe is an abuse of the system. The group understands the recent Constitutional Court ruling regarding asylum seekers.
Prior to the police intervention, a small group of men carrying sticks and sjamboks gathered near the office, protesting against what they termed a scourge of undocumented migrants. The police and Home Affairs officials asked the foreign nationals to evacuate for their own safety, and they complied.
Recently, Home Affairs issued a directive for its offices nationwide to receive all migrants wanting to apply for asylum, following a Constitutional Court ruling. However, on the day of the incident, police turned away hundreds of foreign nationals intending to apply for asylum seeker permits at the Durban branch.
A strong police contingent remained in the area after the foreign nationals left. The situation reflects ongoing tensions and debates surrounding South Africa's asylum system and immigration policies. The government has faced pressure to explain how it will manage the asylum system following the Constitutional Court ruling.
The incident is part of a larger trend of anti-illegal immigration groups disrupting Home Affairs refugee offices. The groups have vowed to continue their demonstrations, calling for stricter measures against migrants who are in the country illegally. The situation remains a contentious issue in South Africa, with various stakeholders weighing in on the matter.
Key points
- Hundreds of foreign nationals were turned away from the Home Affairs Durban Refugee Reception Centre due to security concerns.
- Anti-illegal immigration groups have been demonstrating at Home Affairs offices, demanding stricter measures against undocumented migrants.
- The incident reflects ongoing tensions and debates surrounding South Africa's asylum system and immigration policies.
