Anti-Migrant Violence Escalates in South Africa: Cars Torched, Shops Looted

Anti-immigrant protests in South Africa have escalated into violent clashes in Soweto, a township near Johannesburg, and the port city of Durban. Police report that at least 24 vehicles were set on fire and foreign-owned shops were looted. The unrest, which began on Thursday, is linked to growing anger over a court ruling that would allow some undocumented migrants to apply for asylum.

Highlights

• Anti-immigrant protests in South Africa turned violent, with 24 vehicles torched and foreign-owned shops looted.
• The unrest follows a Constitutional Court ruling allowing some undocumented migrants to apply for asylum.
• The government announced it would change asylum application procedures due to public safety threats.
• In Durban, police used rubber bullets to disperse crowds after an alleged assault by a foreign national on a protester.
• In Soweto, demonstrations demanding the closure of foreign-owned small convenience stores (spaza shops) led to attacks on shops.

Details

The violence escalated on Thursday following allegations that a foreign national assaulted a protester in Durban, leading to the arrest of three foreign nationals. In Durban, protesters gathered outside a refugee reception center, demanding it cease accepting asylum applications. Businesses in the city center closed, and police fired rubber bullets to disperse crowds. Police confirmed that 14 vehicles were torched in Durban and 10 in Soweto, where gunshots were also reported during confrontations between residents and foreign shopkeepers.

The Department of Home Affairs stated that the current policy had "overwhelmed" its staff and led to "serious threats to public safety and order." It affirmed that the new policy would still comply with the Constitutional Court ruling. Government spokesman William Baloyi told Reuters that false claims about the judgment were deliberately spread, creating the impression that undocumented migrants would automatically be granted legal status. Baloyi insisted that the ruling does not automatically grant migrants refugee status or the right to remain permanently in South Africa; applications will still be assessed individually and subject to immigration checks.

Why it matters

These violent incidents highlight South Africa's persistent challenge with xenophobic violence, a problem the country has faced for nearly two decades. Widespread poverty, deep inequality, and an unemployment rate affecting roughly a third of the workforce fuel claims that migrants take jobs, contribute to crime, and strain public services. This situation exacerbates social tensions in South Africa, one of Africa's main destinations for migrants seeking employment, safety, and better opportunities, posing a significant threat to the nation's stability.