Anti-migrant protests in Johannesburg's Soweto township and the coastal city of Durban turned violent on Thursday, with cars set alight and foreign-owned shops looted, Reuters reported. Police mobilised additional officers in both cities as the unrest, which followed demonstrations over asylum processing, left a trail of burned vehicles and damaged property.
Cars burned in Durban, looting in Soweto
In Durban, a Reuters reporter saw five torched cars in the city centre, where shops owned by foreign nationals were also looted. The unrest followed a protest by a group demanding that a refugee centre stop processing asylum applications. Police said in a statement that they had mobilised more officers in Durban, where at least 14 vehicles had been set on fire and a guest house and warehouse were partially burned.
In Soweto, a Reuters reporter saw residents carrying groceries out of a shop that they said was owned by a person from Somalia, whom they chased away. The looters dispersed after police arrived. A senior police official, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, told a press conference in Soweto that 10 vehicles had been burned there but that the situation was under control.
Government blames disinformation
Government spokesperson William Baloyi said the violence was triggered by people deliberately spreading false information about a Constitutional Court ruling from July. The country's highest court had ruled that asylum seekers cannot be denied access to South Africa's asylum system solely for procedural reasons, such as having entered the country illegally. Baloyi said the ruling had been widely misrepresented, stressing that it did not automatically grant refugee status, permanent residence or other legal rights to undocumented migrants.
Dimpane said those responsible for violence and destruction would be identified, investigated and, where sufficient evidence exists, arrested and brought to book.
Months of anti-migrant marches
Reuters noted that South Africa has seen months of anti-migrant marches this year, drawing international criticism. The protests come amid continuing tension over immigration policy and the government's handling of asylum applications.
Sources:
The Hindu: South African anti-migrant protests turn violent, government blames disinformation (Reuters)
KWSN: South Africa blames disinformation as anti-migrant protests turn violent (Reuters)
Cars burned in Durban, looting in Soweto
In Durban, a Reuters reporter saw five torched cars in the city centre, where shops owned by foreign nationals were also looted. The unrest followed a protest by a group demanding that a refugee centre stop processing asylum applications. Police said in a statement that they had mobilised more officers in Durban, where at least 14 vehicles had been set on fire and a guest house and warehouse were partially burned.
In Soweto, a Reuters reporter saw residents carrying groceries out of a shop that they said was owned by a person from Somalia, whom they chased away. The looters dispersed after police arrived. A senior police official, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, told a press conference in Soweto that 10 vehicles had been burned there but that the situation was under control.
Government blames disinformation
Government spokesperson William Baloyi said the violence was triggered by people deliberately spreading false information about a Constitutional Court ruling from July. The country's highest court had ruled that asylum seekers cannot be denied access to South Africa's asylum system solely for procedural reasons, such as having entered the country illegally. Baloyi said the ruling had been widely misrepresented, stressing that it did not automatically grant refugee status, permanent residence or other legal rights to undocumented migrants.
Dimpane said those responsible for violence and destruction would be identified, investigated and, where sufficient evidence exists, arrested and brought to book.
Months of anti-migrant marches
Reuters noted that South Africa has seen months of anti-migrant marches this year, drawing international criticism. The protests come amid continuing tension over immigration policy and the government's handling of asylum applications.
Sources:
The Hindu: South African anti-migrant protests turn violent, government blames disinformation (Reuters)
KWSN: South Africa blames disinformation as anti-migrant protests turn violent (Reuters)
