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Fresh anti-migrant violence has erupted in South Africa, with at least 24 vehicles set ablaze and foreign-owned shops looted during clashes in Soweto and Durban.
The violence broke out on Thursday after protests against the country’s asylum application process escalated into confrontations between residents and foreign nationals, raising fresh concerns over the safety of migrants.
According to police, the unrest in Durban intensified after allegations that a foreign national had assaulted one of the protesters. Three foreign nationals were arrested in connection with the alleged assault.
Protesters also gathered outside a government refugee reception centre in Durban, demanding that it stop accepting asylum applications. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowds as businesses in the city centre shut their doors.
In Soweto, gunshots were reported during confrontations between residents and foreign shopkeepers, adding to fears of further violence.
The latest unrest followed a court ruling in July that opened the way for asylum seekers to apply for protection regardless of how they entered South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs issued an operational directive last month to implement the ruling, prompting long queues at immigration centres as thousands sought access to the asylum process.
On Wednesday, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration said the country’s five refugee reception offices had been overwhelmed by the demand.
In response to the protests, the Home Affairs Department said on Friday that it would change how it implemented the court ruling because the process had presented “unforeseen challenges”. However, it maintained that it would continue to comply with the court’s decision.
South Africa has witnessed repeated outbreaks of xenophobic violence targeting migrants, including people from other African countries. Nigeria has repatriated about 2,000 citizens from the country this year through flights facilitated by the Federal Government and private individuals.
Nigeria and Ghana have also urged the African Union to address what they describe as “Afrophobia” in South Africa, as renewed violence raises concerns about the protection of African migrants and regional relations.
