South Africa has halted new guidelines for processing asylum applications following violent protests in the cities of Johannesburg and Durban. These guidelines were issued by the Department of Home Affairs in response to a court ruling.
Court Ruling and Protests
The court ruling stated that asylum seekers cannot be denied access to South Africa's asylum system solely due to illegal entry into the country. This decision led to widespread protests in the coastal city of Durban, which gradually spread to the Soweto neighborhood in Johannesburg.
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During these protests, demonstrators set fire to 14 vehicles in Durban and 10 vehicles in Soweto, and stores in both areas were looted. The unrest in Durban began after a protest by a group demanding the halt of asylum application processing at a refugee center.
Clashes and Current Situation
In Soweto, residents clashed with foreign shop owners, and gunfire was heard in the area. A spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police stated that several vehicles were set on fire during these clashes. No reports of injuries have been released so far.
The court ruling, which ignited racial tensions, declared some provisions of the government's asylum policy illegal. This ruling was issued because these provisions prevented individuals from accessing the asylum system for procedural reasons, such as illegal entry into the country.
Recently, this ruling has led to a surge of hundreds of people at government refugee centers, some of whom are reportedly not eligible for asylum. The government has also emphasized that this ruling does not automatically grant asylum or permanent residency to anyone.
South Africa has witnessed months of anti-immigration protests this year. Populist and anti-immigrant groups have called for the expulsion of illegal foreign nationals by June 30. Amid international criticism, tens of thousands have fled the country, and some have been returned to their home countries by their governments.
Despite having one-third of its population unemployed, South Africa remains the largest economy in Africa and continues to attract migrants. Migrants are often blamed for taking jobs, increasing crime, and putting pressure on public services, but social scientists consider these accusations baseless.
