At least 24 vehicles were burnt and foreign-owned shops looted as protests against a court ruling easing access to asylum turned violent in Johannesburg and Durban on Thursday, October 8.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane said 10 vehicles were torched in Soweto and another 14 in Durban, where three people were arrested.
The demonstrations followed the implementation of a Constitutional Court ruling issued in July 2026 that removed procedural barriers preventing some migrants from applying for asylum, including those who entered South Africa irregularly, lacked transit visas or missed reporting deadlines.
In Soweto, violence erupted near a Home Affairs office in Orlando West after reports of gunshots directed at protesters. No injuries were reported, although roads remained closed and police maintained a presence in the area.
In Durban, shops belonging to foreign nationals were reportedly looted as smoke engulfed parts of the city centre. Police said three foreign nationals were arrested for allegedly attacking a protester and breaking the person’s neck—an incident believed to have triggered the unrest.
The Government’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration held an emergency briefing on Thursday, October 8, after refugee reception offices were overwhelmed by asylum applicants. The committee had met on Wednesday night, October 7, to assess the situation.
Authorities said the ruling only permits asylum claims to be assessed and does not automatically grant refugee status or permanent residence.