Cars burned and shops looted as anti-immigration protests rock South Africa

Anti-immigration protests erupted in South Africa, leading to a series of violent confrontations and property damage. Police reported 10 vehicles set ablaze in Soweto, close to a Home Affairs office in Orlando West, Johannesburg. Additionally, shops owned by foreigners were targeted and looted. Firefighters scrambled to extinguish the burning cars, and police cordoned off adjacent roads.

In Durban, riot police were called in following reports of looting and vehicle fires, with 14 vehicles ultimately burning. The unrest followed a July decision by the Constitutional Court that removed barriers for certain migrants seeking asylum, including those who entered the country illegally. Authorities noted that refugee reception offices had been inundated with applications.

Authorities claimed the ruling did not automatically confer refugee status. The government vowed to increase processing capacity and tighten identity checks, emphasizing that the ruling would not result in immediate refugee status. Police confirmed no injuries in Soweto and cautioned that individuals responsible for the violence and destruction would be held accountable.