South Africa: Anti-migrant protests turn violent

In South Africa, anti-migrant protests erupted on Thursday as tensions surrounding immigration resurfaced following a court order necessitating the government to restart processing asylum applications. The confrontations became violent in several locations, including Durban and the Soweto township of Johannesburg, where cars were set ablaze and gunfire was reported.

In Durban, approximately ten vehicles were torched and foreign-owned shops were looted, while in Soweto, foreign shop owners faced clashes with locals, and gunshots were heard. The unrest stemmed from a protest demanding the cessation of a refugee center's asylum application processing. Despite the government's assertion that the court ruling does not automatically confer refugee status or permanent residence upon anyone entering South Africa, the decision has led to hundreds of individuals, some of whom are ineligible for asylum, flocking to government refugee centers.

No injuries have been reported at this time, according to Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Superintendent Xolani Fihla. The court's ruling deemed certain provisions of the government's refugee policy unconstitutional due to its prohibition of individuals from accessing the asylum system on procedural grounds, such as entering the country illegally.