Amanze Chinonye
South Africa has withdrawn a directive facilitating asylum applications after anti-immigration protests turned violent in Durban and Johannesburg, with at least 24 vehicles torched and businesses looted, police said.
The Department of Home Affairs said on Friday it had withdrawn the directive because of pressure on refugee reception centres, risks to staff and concerns over public safety. The decision followed Thursday’s unrest in Durban and Soweto, a township in Johannesburg.
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Police reported that 14 vehicles were set alight in Durban and 10 in Soweto. A guest house and a warehouse in Durban were partially burned, while shops were looted. Additional public-order police were deployed to contain the violence.
In Durban, on Thursday about 100 protesters associated with the March and March movement gathered outside a Home Affairs refugee reception centre on Che Guevara Road, where asylum seekers had queued to submit applications. Some carried sticks and sjamboks. Police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd, and the centre was closed, with asylum seekers told to leave for their safety.
Demonstrators later moved into the central business district, disrupting traffic and damaging property. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the situation had stabilised. Police also reported three foreign nationals arrested over an alleged assault on a protester.
The unrest follows a July 7 Constitutional Court ruling in a case involving the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town that addressed restrictions on asylum seekers’ access to the application process because of procedural violations, including irregular entry and missed reporting deadlines.
Home Affairs issued the directive on September 28 to guide implementation of the ruling. The department said it would develop an alternative approach that complied with the court order while addressing operational challenges.
Withdrawing the directive does not overturn the court ruling or automatically grant applicants refugee status or residency. Individual asylum claims remain subject to assessment.
March and March has demanded stricter enforcement of immigration laws and the removal of people it considers to be in South Africa illegally. The movement’s campaign has coincided with allegations of assaults, evictions, looting and damage to migrant-owned businesses. It has denied responsibility for violence against foreign nationals.
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The violence has renewed concerns over the safety of foreign nationals, including people with legal residency or pending asylum claims, and risks straining relations between South Africa and other African countries.
South Africa has experienced repeated outbreaks of anti-immigrant violence, with foreign nationals often blamed for crime, unemployment and pressure on public services. Persistent unemployment and inequality have contributed to broader social tensions, although claims that migrants are responsible for these problems are contested.
The government faces the challenge of enforcing immigration laws while complying with the court ruling and protecting asylum seekers from violence.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
