At least 24 vehicles have been torched and several businesses owned by foreigners ransacked following violent anti-immigration demonstrations in Johannesburg and Durban, South African police have confirmed.
The disturbances erupted on Thursday in Soweto, a township near Johannesburg, and Durban, a coastal commercial hub, amid public discontent over a Constitutional Court decision permitting certain undocumented migrants to seek asylum.
The judgment triggered long queues at refugee reception facilities, prompting the Home Affairs Department to announce plans to revise its implementation procedures while maintaining compliance with the court’s directive.
Authorities attributed the growing tension to concerns about public safety, misinformation surrounding the ruling and fears among anti-immigration activists that the decision could encourage illegal entry.
In Durban, demonstrators gathered outside an asylum processing centre, demanding an end to the acceptance of refugee applications.
Law enforcement officers deployed rubber bullets to disperse the crowd as nearby businesses closed.
Police reported that 14 vehicles were destroyed in Durban, while another 10 were set alight in Soweto.
Gunfire was also heard during confrontations involving local residents and foreign shopkeepers.
The unrest reportedly intensified after allegations that a migrant had assaulted a protester in Durban.
Three foreign nationals were subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.
In Soweto’s Orlando West neighbourhood, residents initially called for the closure of convenience stores, commonly referred to as spaza shops, operated by foreign traders.
Several merchants were reportedly forced to leave certain areas, while commercial premises were attacked and a building set ablaze.
Police reinforcements were deployed to restore calm, with acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane condemning the destruction of property.
Officials have pledged to bring those responsible to justice.
The controversy stems from a July Constitutional Court judgment that overturned restrictions preventing certain individuals from applying for asylum because of their method of entry or failure to meet immigration deadlines.
Government spokesperson William Baloyi rejected claims that the ruling automatically grants undocumented migrants permanent residency or refugee status, explaining that every application remains subject to individual assessment and immigration screening.
South Africa has witnessed recurring xenophobic attacks over nearly two decades.
In 2008, more than 60 people died and thousands of families were displaced during widespread violence against foreign residents.
Earlier this year, anti-immigration movements organised demonstrations demanding the departure of undocumented foreigners, forcing thousands to flee, including some who returned to their home countries through official repatriation arrangements.
The latest incidents have unfolded amid persistent poverty, economic inequality and unemployment affecting approximately one-third of the country’s workforce.
Foreign residents are frequently blamed for job shortages, criminal activity and pressure on public services, although researchers have challenged such generalisations.
Despite these difficulties, South Africa continues to attract people from across the continent seeking employment, security and improved living conditions.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong