Cars torched and shops looted as anti-migrant violence erupts in South Africa

Violent anti-immigration protests erupted in South Africa's major cities of Soweto and Durban, leaving at least 24 vehicles burned and foreign-owned shops plundered. Clashes erupted on Thursday between protesters and foreign nationals, with one alleged assault on a protester in Durban allegedly sparking the unrest. Three foreign nationals were arrested in connection with the incident.

Police dispersed crowds in Durban, firing rubber bullets and no injuries were reported at the time. Police confirmed 14 vehicles were torched in Durban and 10 in Soweto, with gunshots also reported during confrontations between locals and foreign shopkeepers. Acting national police commissioner Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane condemned the property destruction.

The protests were sparked by a recent Constitutional Court ruling requiring the government to remove barriers hindering some migrants from applying for asylum. The ruling permits asylum seekers to submit applications, regardless of their entry method or missed immigration deadlines. The decision has fueled anti-immigration sentiment, as xenophobic groups fear it may encourage undocumented migration.

Government officials claim false claims were spread to create a perception of lenient asylum laws, insisting the ruling does not grant refugees legal status or permanent residency. Applicants still undergo individual assessments and immigration checks. The unrest forced thousands of migrants to flee, with some repatriated through organized government programs.

South Africa has a history of xenophobic attacks, most notably in 2008 when over 60 people were killed and thousands displaced during widespread riots targeting foreign nationals. The country's economic struggles, poverty, inequality, and high unemployment contribute to xenophobic attitudes, despite research disproving claims that migrants take jobs, cause crime, or burden public services.