South Africa pulls asylum directive after violent protests

South Africa has halted a new directive for the processing of asylum applications after protests broke out in Johannesburg and Durban.

The directive was issued by the Department of Home Affairs in response to a court judgement.

The court ruling said asylum seekers could not be denied access to South Africa's asylum system solely on procedural grounds, such as entering the country illegally.

That decision led to days of protests in the major coastal city of Durban, which then spread to Johannesburg's Soweto township on Thursday.

Rioters torched 14 cars in Durban and 10 in Soweto. Shops were looted in both locations.

What do we know about protests in South Africa?

The unrest in Durban reportedly followed a protest by a group demanding that a refugee center stop processing asylum applications. Vehicles were overturned and set on fire. Foreign-owned shops were also looted.

Meanwhile, in Soweto, residents clashed with foreign shop owners, and gunshots were heard, according to the broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.

Several vehicles were set alight during clashes, said Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Superintendent Xolani Fihla in an interview with SABC television.

"It's reported that there were clashes between foreign nationals in the area and South African nationals," he said. "At the present moment, I can confirm that no injuries have been reported."

What is the court ruling that sparked protests?

The court ruling that sparked the flare-up of xenophobic tensions deemed certain provisions of the government's refugee policy to be unconstitutional.

The court explained that this was because the provisions prevented individuals from accessing the asylum system on procedural grounds, such as entering the country illegally.

Recently, this ruling has led hundreds of people, reportedly including those who do not qualify for asylum, to flock to government refugee centers.

On Wednesday, the government emphasized that the judgement "does not grant refugee status or permanent residence automatically to anyone who enters South Africa."

Xenophobic sentiment in South Africa

South Africa has experienced months of anti-immigrant protests this year. Populist and anti-immigrant groups have demanded that undocumented foreign nationals leave by June 30.

Amidst international criticism, tens of thousands of people have fled the country, while some were repatriated by their governments.

Although South Africa has a third of its population unemployed, it remains the largest economy in Africa and continues to attract migrants.

Migrants are often blamed for taking jobs, fueling crime, and straining public services. However, social scientists have said these accusations are not supported by evidence.