The South African government halted a new directive for processing asylum applications following violent protests in Johannesburg and Durban. This directive had been issued by the Department of Home Affairs and was in response to a court ruling.
Court Ruling and Its Consequences
The court ruling stated that asylum seekers cannot be denied access to the South African asylum system solely due to illegal entry into the country. This ruling led to the relevant offices for asylum seekers being quickly overwhelmed, creating serious risks for officials.
Protests and Clashes
The protests in Durban began after a gathering of a group demanding the cessation of asylum application processing at a refugee center and spread to the Soweto neighborhood in Johannesburg. During these protests, 14 vehicles were set on fire in Durban and 10 vehicles in Soweto, and stores in both locations were looted.
In Soweto, residents clashed with foreign shop owners, and gunfire was heard. Johannesburg Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Superintendent Zolani Fila, confirmed in an interview that no injuries were reported.
The court ruling, which led to increased racial tensions, declared some provisions of the government's asylum policy illegal. This ruling attracted hundreds who appeared to include individuals not eligible for asylum to visit government refugee centers.
The government emphasized on Wednesday that this ruling "does not grant asylum or permanent residency status to anyone entering South Africa in any way."
South Africa has witnessed months of anti-immigration protests this year. Populist and anti-immigration groups are calling for the expulsion of undocumented foreigners by June 30. Following international criticism, tens of thousands have left the country, and some have been repatriated by their governments.
Despite having a third of its population unemployed, South Africa remains the largest economy in Africa and continues to attract migrants. Migrants are often blamed for job losses, rising crime, and pressure on public services, but social scientists have stated that these accusations are not supported by documented evidence.
