South Africa withdraws asylum directive after cars are torched and shops looted in anti-migrant riots

From the Newshound archive · first published 8 October 2026 · last updated 9 October 2026.

South Africa's government has withdrawn an asylum processing directive after violent anti-migrant protests broke out in Soweto and Durban, leaving at least 24 vehicles burned and foreign-owned businesses ransacked. The unrest was sparked by a Constitutional Court ruling that removed barriers blocking migrants from applying for asylum. Three people were arrested in Durban after foreign nationals allegedly attacked a protester, setting off the worst of the violence.

Police deployed rubber bullets in Durban as protesters surrounded a refugee reception centre, demanding it halt the acceptance of asylum applications.

Gunshots rang out in Soweto's Orlando West neighbourhood, where residents also drove foreign traders from their shops and set a building on fire.

Acting police commissioner Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane denounced the violence, acknowledging that officers deployed to the unrest had initially lacked specialised public-order training.