JOHANNESBURG, October 9 (Reuters) — South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has withdrawn a directive allowing the intake of asylum applications, a day after anti-migrant protests turned violent in Johannesburg and Durban, resulting in the torching of vehicles and looting of foreign-owned shops.
The directive was intended to implement a July 7 Constitutional Court ruling that asylum seekers cannot be denied access to the country’s asylum system solely on procedural grounds, including entering South Africa illegally.
In a statement on Friday, the department said the directive had been introduced as an operational measure but its implementation had overwhelmed refugee reception offices within days. It added that the situation had placed officials at risk and generated threats to public safety and order.
The government has blamed disinformation surrounding the court ruling for fuelling public concern. It stressed that the judgment did not automatically grant refugee status, permanent residence or other legal rights to undocumented migrants.
The withdrawal comes amid a growing wave of anti-immigrant protests in Africa’s largest economy. The demonstrations have strained South Africa’s relations with other African countries and prompted thousands of foreign nationals to leave the country.
Migrants are frequently accused of contributing to unemployment, crime and pressure on public services. However, social scientists say these allegations are not supported by evidence.
Violence erupted on Thursday in Durban, a coastal city, and Johannesburg’s Soweto township. Rioters torched 14 vehicles in Durban and another 10 in Soweto, while foreign-owned businesses were looted.
Speaking at a press briefing in Soweto on Friday, near the remains of vehicles destroyed during the unrest, senior police official Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane said calm had returned to the area.
In Durban, police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said the situation had stabilised, crediting a swift police response with preventing further damage.
The developments highlight the growing challenges facing South Africa as it seeks to manage migration, uphold constitutional protections for asylum seekers and respond to public tensions over the presence of foreign nationals.
The government’s handling of the issue also underscores the difficulty of balancing the enforcement of immigration laws with the country’s legal obligations to people seeking international protection.
Courtesy of Reuters