South Africa withdraws asylum directive after anti-migrant violence

South Africa has withdrawn a directive allowing asylum applications after anti-migrant protests turned violent in Johannesburg and Durban. The directive, issued on July 7, was meant to implement a Constitutional Court ruling that prohibited denying asylum seekers access to the country's system based on procedural grounds alone, such as illegal entry.

However, the Reuters Daily Briefing notes that the implementation of the directive overwhelmed refugee reception offices, put officials at risk, and threatened public safety and order. The South African government has blamed disinformation over the court's ruling and emphasized that it does not grant refugees, permanent residence, or other legal rights to undocumented migrants.

The country, Africa's largest economy, is experiencing a surge in anti-immigrant protests that have strained relations with other African nations and forced thousands of foreign nationals to leave. Migrants are frequently accused of causing unemployment, crime, and pressure on public services, claims that social scientists say are not backed by evidence.

In Durban, rioters torched 14 vehicles and looted foreign-owned shops on Thursday, while Johannesburg's Soweto township saw 10 vehicles set on fire. A top police official, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, declared calm had returned to the area, attributing the stabilization to a swift police response.