Key facts
- Anti-migrant protests turned violent in South Africa on Thursday.
- In Durban, about 10 vehicles were overturned and set alight, and foreign-owned shops were looted.
- In Soweto, residents clashed with foreign shop owners and gunshots were heard.
- The government attributes the violence to disinformation about a court ruling on asylum seekers.
Anti-migrant protests erupted in South Africa on Thursday, turning violent in Durban and Johannesburg. In Durban, approximately 10 vehicles were overturned and set on fire, and foreign-owned shops were looted, according to local media. The unrest reportedly followed a protest by a group demanding that a refugee center cease processing asylum applications. In Soweto, residents clashed with foreign shop owners, and gunshots were heard, broadcaster Newzroom Afrika reported. The South African government stated that disinformation regarding a constitutional court ruling on asylum seekers fueled the violence. The court had deemed certain provisions of the government's refugee policy unconstitutional, which prevented individuals from accessing the asylum system on procedural grounds. This ruling has led hundreds to flock to government refugee centers. South Africa has seen months of anti-immigrant protests this year, with populist groups demanding undocumented foreign nationals leave. Despite high unemployment, the country remains Africa's largest economy and a destination for migrants, who are often blamed for taking jobs, fueling crime, and straining public services, accusations social scientists say are unsubstantiated.