Soweto community members gather outside home affairs office

Soweto residents have gathered outside the Department of Home Affairs office in Orlando West in response to the withdrawal of a directive that had expanded the number of asylum seeker applications. The directive was withdrawn by Home Affairs on September 28, following a ruling from the Constitutional Court in July. Demonstrators, holding South African flags, expressed their opposition to the assistance of foreign nationals at the office.

Police presence has been heightened in the area, with Xolani Fihla, a spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), stating that the situation is under control. Fihla explained that a significant police force has been deployed in and around the vicinity to prevent any recurrence of the events witnessed the previous day.

The police have established a "red zone" and are urging protesters to move a few meters away to allow law enforcement to carry out their duties. While the police are not denying protesters their constitutional right to demonstrate, they emphasized that yesterday's incident must not be repeated.

JMPD spokesperson Fihla highlighted that gatherings in and around the home affairs office are being monitored closely. The community's reaction to the directive withdrawal underscores the ongoing migration crisis in South Africa.