Security Tightened After Violent Anti-Immigrant Protests in South Africa

Security was heightened in parts of Johannesburg and Durban on Friday after a second day of violent protests targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.

Demonstrators attacked foreigners, torched cars, looted shops and threw bricks and bottles during the unrest. Police used tear gas and stun grenades in attempts to disperse the crowds.

Misinformation over asylum directive

The protests followed widespread misinformation about a Home Affairs directive connected to the implementation of a Constitutional Court ruling on the processing of asylum seekers.

The directive stated that asylum seekers must be allowed to submit applications even when they entered South Africa without the required documents. Home Affairs withdrew the directive on Friday and said it would prepare a new plan that complies with the court’s requirements.

False claims circulated among anti-immigrant campaigners that undocumented migrants would automatically receive legal status. The directive instead concerned the ability of asylum seekers to submit applications, according to the reported details.

Hundreds of people gathered at refugee reception centres after the directive became a focus of public anger.

Criticism from local campaigners

Community leader Tshepo Mposula criticised the government’s position, saying: “This government is so obsessed with the foreigners, they will do whatever it takes to protect, you know, illegal foreigners.”

Local councillor Mpumi Edward also objected to the documentation of foreign nationals, saying it was “not right” for Home Affairs and the ANC government to do so. Edward added: “Because all these people have come to this country illegally, and we should be jailing them instead of documenting them.”

The report does not independently verify the claims made by Mposula or Edward.

Long-running tensions

The violence forms part of what has been described as a growing wave of anti-foreigner mobilisation. Groups such as March and March have been at the forefront of demonstrations during the year, including an unofficial 30 June deadline calling for foreigners to leave South Africa. The reported departures of tens of thousands of people from other African nations after that deadline have not been independently confirmed.

South Africa has long attracted migrants from across the continent seeking employment. The country has also experienced periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence for nearly two decades. Some incidents have been linked to disputed claims that foreign nationals take scarce jobs and resources from local residents.

In June, the government announced measures intended to manage migration, including stronger border controls, action against human smuggling and faster deportations of people who do not qualify to remain in the country.

Complaints about illegal immigration have grown ahead of local government elections scheduled for 4 November, while unemployment is above 30 percent. The report does not specify the jurisdiction for those elections.