Protests in South Africa have escalated to violence, particularly in Johannesburg's Soweto township and the coastal city of Durban, following a court ruling on asylum seekers. On Thursday, police reported that approximately 24 vehicles were set ablaze and foreign-run businesses were forced to close. The unrest was sparked by demonstrations demanding the cessation of processing asylum applications at refugee centers.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane stated that 10 vehicles were torched in Johannesburg and 14 in Durban, where three individuals were arrested. In Soweto, a Reuters reporter observed residents removing groceries from a shop owned by a Somali national, who was subsequently chased away. Police intervened shortly after. In Durban, cars were set on fire in the urban center, and foreign-owned shops were looted. Reports indicated that police used rubber bullets to disperse protesters who had allegedly set fire to a business operated by foreigners.
The protests are a response to a July Constitutional Court decision that eliminated procedural barriers for seeking asylum, including for individuals who entered South Africa irregularly, lacked asylum transit visas, or missed reporting deadlines. On Thursday, the government's Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration convened an urgent briefing to discuss overcrowding at asylum offices, which have been overwhelmed by incoming applications since the ruling was implemented. Government spokesperson William Baloyi stated that the violence was incited by the spread of false information regarding the court ruling, which he claimed had been misrepresented. He clarified that the ruling does not automatically confer refugee status, permanent residence, or other legal rights to undocumented migrants.
Baloyi expressed deep concern over the situation, noting that months of protests by populist, anti-immigrant groups demanding the departure of undocumented foreign nationals have resulted in tens of thousands fleeing, with some being repatriated by their home countries. Despite the end of apartheid three decades ago, South Africa continues to face significant inequality, with about one-third of the population unemployed. Migrants are frequently blamed for job competition, crime, and public service strain, although these claims lack supporting evidence.