Violence Erupts in South Africa as Cars Torched and Shops Looted Amid Anti-Migrant Protests

Violent demonstrations in Durban escalated after allegations emerged that a foreign national had assaulted a protester during a march. Police confirmed that three foreign nationals have been arrested in connection with the alleged assault.

In Durban, located in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, protesters gathered outside a government refugee reception centre, demanding that it stop accepting asylum applications. As businesses in the city centre shut their doors, police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.

Senior local police officer Xolani Fihla told the state broadcaster SABC that clashes had occurred between foreign nationals and South African citizens in the area. He added that, at that moment, no injuries had been reported.

According to police, 14 vehicles were torched in Durban, and an additional 10 were set on fire in Soweto, where gunshots were reportedly heard during confrontations between residents and foreign shopkeepers. Acting national police commissioner Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane condemned the widespread destruction of property.

In Orlando West, a neighbourhood of Soweto, residents initially gathered to demand the closure of local convenience stores, known as spaza shops, which are operated by foreign nationals. Protesters forced foreign traders to flee some areas, while shops were attacked and a building was set on fire, according to local media reports.

Police stated that reinforcements have been deployed to prevent further violence, and authorities have promised to pursue those responsible for the destruction.

The latest wave of unrest follows a landmark July ruling by South Africa’s Constitutional Court, the country’s highest court, which struck down restrictions that prevented certain individuals from seeking asylum based on how they entered the country or missed immigration deadlines. The judgment mandates that asylum seekers must be allowed to submit applications, even if they entered South Africa without the required documents.

This ruling has prompted hundreds of people to gather at refugee reception centres, intensifying anger among anti-immigration campaigners who fear the decision will encourage undocumented migration. Government spokesman William Baloyi told Reuters that false claims about the judgment had been deliberately spread, creating the impression that undocumented migrants would automatically be granted legal status.

Baloyi emphasized that the ruling does not automatically grant migrants refugee status or the right to remain permanently in the country. Officials clarified that applications will still be assessed individually, and applicants will remain subject to immigration checks.

Earlier this year, anti-immigration groups staged weeks of demonstrations demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country by June 30th. These protests forced tens of thousands of migrants to flee, with many returning home through repatriation programmes organized by their respective governments.

South Africa has grappled with xenophobic attacks for nearly two decades, with a particularly violent outbreak in 2008 resulting in more than 60 deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of foreign nationals. The latest unrest occurs against a backdrop of widespread poverty, deep inequality, and unemployment affecting roughly a third of the workforce.

While migrants are frequently accused of taking jobs, contributing to crime, and straining public services, researchers note that such sweeping claims are not supported by evidence. Despite ongoing economic challenges, South Africa remains one of the continent’s primary destinations for migrants seeking employment, safety, and better opportunities.

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