South Africa Anti-Immigration Protests Turn Violent, 24 Vehicles Burned
At least 24 vehicles have been set ablaze and foreign-owned shops looted in South Africa after anti-immigration protests turned violent in Johannesburg and Durban, police say.
The violence erupted on Thursday in Soweto, a township in Johannesburg, and Durban, a major coastal city, amid demonstrations against a Constitutional Court ruling that eased procedural barriers preventing some migrants from applying for asylum.
Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane said 10 vehicles were torched in Soweto and 14 in Durban. Three people were arrested in Durban in connection with an alleged assault on a protester.
Police deployed additional public-order officers as clashes between South African residents and foreign nationals escalated. Some businesses were looted, while other foreign-owned shops were forced to close amid fears of further attacks.
The unrest follows growing anti-immigration sentiment in the country, where protesters have demanded tougher border controls and the deportation of undocumented migrants. However, the government has warned that misinformation about the court ruling has contributed to tensions.
The ruling does not automatically grant asylum seekers legal residency. Instead, it requires authorities to assess eligible asylum applications without rejecting them solely because of procedural issues, including irregular entry into the country.
South Africa has experienced repeated outbreaks of xenophobic violence, with migrants from other African countries frequently targeted amid disputes over employment, crime and access to public services.
Authorities have condemned the destruction of property and warned that those responsible will face prosecution.
The latest violence highlights the challenge facing South Africa as it attempts to enforce immigration laws while upholding the legal rights of asylum seekers and protecting foreign nationals from attacks.
