KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has called on the police to investigate the issue of asylum seekers who own firearms in South Africa. This follows violent protests in Durban and Soweto, triggered by a Constitutional Court judgment on immigration and the Department of Home Affairs' announcement on undocumented foreign nationals applying for asylum status. The protests resulted in property damage and injuries.
The protests in Durban left one man with a broken leg, 14 cars torched, and at least two buildings slightly damaged by fire. Similar protests took place in Soweto, where cars were torched and shops looted. There were also reports of a foreign national discharging a firearm in public. Ntuli was addressing the media during a walkabout in Durban on Friday, accompanied by KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia.
Ntuli emphasized the need for measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. He stressed the importance of engaging protest leaders to ensure they play a role in preventing a recurrence of the violence. According to Ntuli, there needs to be a way to prevent similar occurrences, and engaging protest leaders is crucial to achieving this.
The KZN Premier also expressed concern about opportunists who take advantage of protests to loot and destroy property. He noted that such actions destroy the future of the province's children, as investors may leave due to violence and instability. Ntuli urged residents to help maintain stability in the province.
Ntuli specifically called on the police to address concerns about foreign nationals possessing firearms. He questioned whether a person seeking asylum in a foreign country should be allowed to own a firearm. This issue needs to be addressed, according to Ntuli, and the provincial government is certain that the police did a good job during the protests.
The provincial government, together with the municipality, will engage law enforcement agencies and protest organizers to ensure the province and its businesses are protected. Ntuli added that residents have a responsibility to help maintain stability in the province. He also noted that illegal migration is a concern for all stakeholders and should be addressed accordingly.
The violent protests were triggered by a Constitutional Court judgment on immigration delivered in July and the subsequent announcement by the Department of Home Affairs. The protests highlight the need for effective management of immigration and asylum seeker issues in South Africa. Key discussions will focus on preventing future violence and addressing concerns around firearm ownership by asylum seekers.
Key points
- KZN Premier Thami Ntuli calls for tighter scrutiny of asylum seekers' firearm ownership.
- Violent protests in Durban and Soweto resulted in property damage and injuries.
- Ntuli emphasizes the importance of engaging protest leaders to prevent future violence.
