Security Tightened in Johannesburg and Durban After Anti-Immigrant Protests

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

Demonstrators attacked foreign nationals, 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 fuels protests

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

The directive stated that asylum seekers should be allowed to submit applications even when they had entered South Africa without the required documents. The measure prompted hundreds of people to gather at refugee reception centres.

False claims circulated that undocumented migrants would automatically receive legal status, helping to fuel anger among anti-immigrant campaigners. The source information does not identify the origin of those claims.

Home Affairs withdrew the directive on Friday and said it would prepare a new plan that complies with the requirements set by the Constitutional Court.

Community anger

Community leader Tshepo Mposula criticised the government’s approach to foreign nationals, 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 opposed the government’s intention to document foreign nationals. “Because all these people have come to this country illegally, and we should be jailing them instead of documenting them,” Edward said, describing the approach as “not right.”

The claims made by the two community figures were not independently established in the available information.

Wider tensions

South Africa has attracted migrants from elsewhere on the continent seeking employment. The country has also experienced periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence for nearly two decades, with some attacks based on disputed claims that foreign nationals take scarce jobs and resources from local communities.

March and March, identified as a leading force behind anti-foreigner demonstrations throughout the year, had set 30 June as an unofficial deadline for foreigners to leave the country. The source says tens of thousands of people from other African countries fled after that deadline, though it does not provide a precise figure.

Complaints about illegal immigration have increased ahead of local government elections scheduled for 4 November. Unemployment, which is cited as being above 30 per cent, is another major issue in the country.

In June, the government announced measures to strengthen border controls, combat human smuggling and speed up the deportation of people who do not qualify to remain in South Africa.