Anti-immigration protests in South Africa have turned violent, with 24 vehicles set on fire and foreign-owned businesses targeted in Johannesburg and Durban.
The South Africa anti-immigration protests erupted on Thursday following a Constitutional Court ruling that eased procedural restrictions on asylum applications.
Police reported incidents of arson and looting, while authorities accused groups of spreading misleading information about the court’s decision.
The unrest has renewed concerns about the safety of migrants and refugees amid growing tensions over immigration.
South Africa anti-immigration protests leave 24 vehicles burned
According to Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, AFP and AP, violence broke out in Johannesburg’s Soweto township and the coastal city of Durban on October 8.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane said protesters set fire to 10 vehicles in Johannesburg and 14 in Durban.
Police also arrested three people in Durban.
In Soweto, a Reuters journalist witnessed residents removing groceries from a shop reportedly owned by a Somali national.
The residents said they had driven the owner away before police arrived.
Meanwhile, Reuters journalists in Durban reported that protesters burned vehicles and looted foreign-owned businesses.
AFP reporters also witnessed police using rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators.
The intervention followed reports that protesters had set fire to a business operated by foreign nationals.
Court ruling sparks dispute over asylum applications
The South Africa anti-immigration protests followed a July ruling by the country’s Constitutional Court.
The decision removed certain procedural barriers that previously prevented some migrants from applying for asylum.
These included restrictions affecting people who entered South Africa irregularly, lacked asylum transit visas or missed reporting deadlines.
However, the ruling did not automatically grant refugee status or permanent residence.
Instead, it addressed access to the asylum application process.
Some demonstrators have demanded that refugee reception centres stop processing asylum applications.
The protests intensified as authorities reported growing pressure on immigration offices.
Government blames misinformation for unrest
South Africa’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration held an urgent briefing on Thursday to address the situation.
Officials said asylum offices were struggling to manage the number of applications following implementation of the court ruling.
Government spokesperson William Baloyi accused individuals of deliberately spreading false information about the decision.
He stressed that the judgment did not automatically provide undocumented migrants with refugee status, permanent residence or other legal entitlements.
Baloyi also expressed concern about the violence.
The government maintains that the ruling has been widely misrepresented, contributing to public confusion and tensions.
However, the source report did not establish that misinformation alone caused the unrest.
Migrants face growing hostility in South Africa
The latest violence follows months of demonstrations organised by groups opposed to undocumented immigration.
Some groups have demanded that foreign nationals without legal residency leave South Africa.
According to the report, tens of thousands of migrants have left the country during the period of unrest, including some who returned through government-assisted repatriation programmes.
The protests have raised concerns about the safety of foreign nationals and their businesses.
South Africa continues to face significant economic challenges, including high unemployment and persistent inequality.
Approximately one-third of the country’s workforce is unemployed, according to the report.
Migrants are frequently blamed by some political groups for unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.
However, broad claims linking migrants to these problems are not established by the evidence presented.
Authorities face pressure to restore calm
The violence has increased pressure on South African authorities to protect residents, businesses and asylum seekers.
Police have intervened in affected areas, while government officials have sought to clarify the Constitutional Court’s ruling.
The decision allows eligible individuals to access asylum procedures without automatically determining whether their applications will succeed.
Meanwhile, overcrowding at asylum offices remains a challenge.
The latest South Africa anti-immigration protests highlight continuing tensions over migration policy, economic hardship and access to public services.
Authorities now face the task of maintaining public order while ensuring that immigration procedures comply with the law.