South Africa withdraws asylum directive after xenophobic clashes

The South African government has withdrawn a directive on processing asylum applications following xenophobic clashes between foreign nationals and anti-immigration protesters that left vehicles burnt and foreign-owned shops looted.

The Department of Home Affairs announced the withdrawal on Friday, saying the directive had triggered “serious consequences” and overwhelmed refugee reception offices within days.

The department said its officials had been placed at risk and that serious threats to public safety and order had emerged, adding that it would begin a fresh process.

The directive had required refugee reception offices to process asylum applications following a Constitutional Court ruling that certain procedural barriers facing asylum seekers were unconstitutional.

The move prompted hundreds of people to visit refugee reception offices, reigniting tensions over immigration and the presence of foreign nationals in the country.

Violence erupted on Thursday in Soweto, Johannesburg, and Durban, a port city on South Africa’s east coast, following protests organised by anti-illegal immigration groups.

In Durban, at least 14 vehicles were set ablaze and a municipal building was set on fire. Police said three foreign nationals were arrested for allegedly assaulting a South African protester.

In Soweto, at least 10 vehicles were torched, while small convenience stores were looted.

South Africa, the continent’s wealthiest nation, has long attracted migrants from other African countries but has experienced periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence over nearly two decades.

The violence has sometimes been fuelled by disputed claims that foreign nationals take jobs and scarce resources from South African citizens.

Tensions over illegal immigration have intensified ahead of local government elections scheduled for November 4, with unemployment above 30 per cent remaining a major concern.

At least four foreign nationals were killed in violence earlier this year, according to South African police, although some African governments reported a higher death toll.

The latest tensions have also prompted foreign nationals to leave the country. Those who departed in earlier waves of violence included citizens of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda.

Some were repatriated by their governments, raising diplomatic tensions with Pretoria.