RismadarVoice Reporters
October 9, 2026
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has withdrawn a directive governing asylum applications following violent anti-immigrant protests in Johannesburg and Durban that reportedly destroyed vehicles and involved the looting of foreign-owned businesses.
The department announced the withdrawal after unrest in the two cities, citing mounting pressure on refugee reception offices and concerns about public safety.
The directive had been introduced to implement a July 7 Constitutional Court ruling concerning access to the asylum system.
Under the ruling, asylum seekers could not be denied access to the application process solely because of procedural irregularities, including unlawful entry into South Africa.
However, the Department of Home Affairs said the implementation measures had overwhelmed refugee reception offices within days, creating operational difficulties and exposing officials to potential security risks.
The department also expressed concern about misinformation surrounding the court judgment.
It clarified that the ruling did not automatically confer refugee status, permanent residency or other immigration rights on undocumented foreign nationals.
The withdrawal followed demonstrations in Johannesburg and Durban that escalated into violence, with protesters reportedly attacking vehicles and businesses.
Reports indicated that 14 vehicles were set ablaze in Durban, while another 10 were destroyed in Soweto, Johannesburg. Several businesses owned by foreign nationals were also reportedly looted.
Senior police official Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane said calm had returned to Soweto following the disturbances.
In Durban, police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda confirmed that the security situation had stabilised, attributing the containment of the unrest to the prompt intervention of law enforcement personnel.
The incidents have renewed concerns about anti-immigrant hostility in South Africa, where migration remains a contentious social and political issue.
Foreign nationals have frequently faced accusations of contributing to unemployment, criminal activities and pressure on public services. However, researchers have challenged broad claims linking immigration to these problems, warning against generalisations unsupported by evidence.
The latest developments also highlight the difficulties facing South African authorities as they seek to manage migration, maintain public order and comply with constitutional protections for asylum seekers.
The Department of Home Affairs has not indicated in the information available whether a replacement directive will be introduced or how asylum applications will be processed following the withdrawal.
The situation has raised further questions about the protection of foreign nationals and the government’s ability to implement immigration policies without exposing vulnerable communities to violence.
