The South African government has condemned the violent protests that erupted in Durban and Soweto over a Constitutional Court judgment on asylum applications and a home affairs directive. Justice Minister and Interministerial Committee on Migration Chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi stated that matters relating to asylum, migration, and border management must be addressed through lawful processes. The government has warned that violence, intimidation, and property destruction will not be tolerated.
Since the protests began on Thursday, police have arrested 30 people, 25 in KwaZulu-Natal and five in Gauteng, for public violence, illegal gatherings, and resisting arrest. Those arrested included individuals identified as ringleaders who allegedly threatened to disrupt planned football matches in Durban. Kubayi emphasized that the government will act against illegal actions, regardless of nationality, and that a crime is a crime.
Kubayi expressed concern over the destruction of small businesses, particularly those owned by black women, saying it was painful to see entrepreneurs lose their livelihoods. She cited the example of a KwaZulu-Natal beauty business owner who employed 22 people and whose business was destroyed during the unrest. The minister questioned why South Africans were being asked to prove their nationality during the protests.
The deployment of the South African National Defence Force in KwaZulu-Natal is part of broader stabilization efforts. Police remained on high alert in all provinces, with sporadic incidents in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo addressed through operational interventions. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia warned foreign nationals to obey the law and avoid taking matters into their own hands.
Cachalia condemned lawlessness and arson, referring to an incident in KwaZulu-Natal in which three Ethiopians were arrested after discharging firearms. He emphasized that there can be no fiefdoms in South Africa occupied by groups confronting South Africans. The minister urged foreign nationals to respect the law and not worsen their situation by taking matters into their own hands.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced that a new phased registration and appointment model for asylum applications will be introduced in November. The system will be digital, and authorities will be able to identify people who submitted fraudulent asylum claims. Schreiber emphasized that the platform will help authorities deal with those who submitted spurious claims.
The government has assured that the new system will not be taken advantage of, and those who submit asylum claims will be required to provide biometrics. The platform will help authorities identify chancers who overwhelm the system and deal with the issue of invisibility often exploited in the immigration system. The government remains committed to protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of nationality.
Key points
- The South African government has arrested 30 people in connection with the violent protests.
- The government has deployed the South African National Defence Force in KwaZulu-Natal as part of stabilization efforts.
- A new digital system for asylum applications will be introduced in November to prevent fraudulent claims.
