At least 24 vehicles have been set ablaze and foreign-owned shops looted in South Africa after anti-migrant protests turned violent in Soweto and Durban, prompting police to deploy reinforcements to contain the unrest.
The violence erupted on Thursday, October 8, as demonstrators protested against a Constitutional Court ruling that allows people who entered the country unlawfully, or missed immigration deadlines, to apply for asylum.
Police said 14 vehicles were torched in Durban, while another 10 were set ablaze in Soweto, a township on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Gunshots were also reported during confrontations involving residents and foreign shopkeepers in Soweto.
Police Fire Rubber Bullets As Shops Close
In Durban, protesters gathered outside a government refugee reception centre, demanding that authorities stop accepting asylum applications.
Police fired rubber bullets to disperse crowds as businesses in the city centre shut their doors amid fears of further violence.
The demonstrations reportedly escalated after allegations that a foreign national had assaulted a protester. Police said three foreign nationals were arrested in connection with the alleged incident.
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“There were clashes between foreign nationals in the area and South African nationals,” senior local police officer Xolani Fihla told the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
He said no injuries had been reported at the time of his statement.
In Soweto’s Orlando West neighbourhood, residents had initially demanded the closure of small convenience stores, locally known as spaza shops, operated by foreign nationals.
The protests later escalated, with foreign traders reportedly forced out of some areas, shops attacked and a building set on fire. Authorities deployed additional officers to prevent further attacks.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane condemned the destruction of property and warned that those responsible would be pursued.
Court Ruling Sparks Immigration Dispute
The unrest follows a July 2026 ruling by South Africa’s Constitutional Court, which removed procedural barriers preventing some people from applying for asylum because of how they entered the country or missed immigration deadlines.
The decision means that people cannot automatically be denied access to the asylum application process solely because they entered South Africa without the required documents.
However, the ruling does not automatically grant applicants refugee status or permanent permission to remain in the country. Applications are still subject to individual assessment and immigration checks.
Government spokesperson William Baloyi said misinformation about the judgment had fuelled public anger by creating the impression that undocumented migrants would automatically receive legal status.
The Department of Home Affairs also said the surge in applications had overwhelmed staff and raised concerns about public safety and order.
Following the unrest, the government announced on Friday that it was withdrawing a recent directive that had enabled the expanded intake of asylum applications. It said it would change its approach to implementing the court ruling, while maintaining that it would comply with the court’s decision.
South Africa’s History Of Xenophobic Violence
South Africa has experienced repeated outbreaks of xenophobic violence over nearly two decades, with foreign nationals from other African countries frequently targeted.
In 2008, more than 60 people were killed and tens of thousands displaced during widespread attacks on migrants.
The latest unrest comes amid widespread poverty, deep inequality and unemployment affecting roughly a third of the country’s workforce.
Foreign nationals are often accused of taking jobs, contributing to crime and putting pressure on public services. However, researchers have cautioned that sweeping claims blaming migrants for these problems are not supported by sufficient evidence.
Authorities have condemned the latest attacks and pledged to pursue those responsible as concerns grow over the safety of foreign nationals and the risk of further violence.
