Story perspectives

Home Affairs Withdraws Asylum Directive After Violent Protests

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 2:32 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs withdrew the asylum-application directive after violent anti-immigrant protests.
Protesters torched 24 vehicles in Soweto and Durban.
Foreign-owned shops were looted and three foreign nationals were arrested in Durban.
Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane said police restored calm.
Deputy Director-General Thulani Mavuso announced a fresh process to meet the court order.

History

Historical Context

The 2008 xenophobic riots that killed 62 people led President Thabo Mbeki to deploy armed forces—the first post-apartheid troop deployment. Later flare-ups, such as the 2019 Durban attacks, kept xenophobic tension high. Home Affairs' recent withdrawal of the asylum-application directive mirrors those earlier government attempts to quell national ongoing unrest.

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Story summary

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs withdrew the asylum-application directive after violent anti-immigrant protests.
Protesters torched 24 vehicles in Soweto and Durban.
Foreign-owned shops were looted and three foreign nationals were arrested in Durban.
Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane said police restored calm.
Deputy Director-General Thulani Mavuso announced a fresh process to meet the court order.

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