At least 24 vehicles have been set ablaze and foreign-owned shops looted in South Africa as anti-immigration protests turned violent in Durban and Soweto. The clashes erupted on Thursday amid growing anger over a court ruling that requires the government to remove barriers preventing some migrants from applying for asylum.
Background of the Protests
The violence follows a July ruling by South Africa's Constitutional Court, which struck down restrictions that had previously limited asylum applications based on how individuals entered the country or missed immigration deadlines. This ruling has led to an influx of people gathering at refugee reception centres, igniting anger among anti-immigration campaigners who fear it will encourage undocumented migration.
Details of the Violence
In Durban, protesters gathered outside a government refugee reception centre, demanding it cease accepting asylum applications. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowds as businesses in the city centre closed their doors. According to senior police officer Xolani Fihla, "There were clashes between foreign nationals in the area and South African nationals."
Arrests and Damage
Three foreign nationals were arrested in connection with an alleged assault on a protester in Durban. Police reported that 14 vehicles were torched in Durban and 10 in Soweto, where gunshots were also heard during confrontations between residents and foreign shopkeepers. Acting national police commissioner Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane condemned the destruction of property.
