South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has withdrawn a directive allowing the intake of asylum applications, a day after anti-migrant protests turned violent in Johannesburg and Durban.
The directive was intended to implement a July 7 Constitutional Court ruling that asylum seekers could not be denied access to the country’s asylum system solely on procedural grounds, including entering the country illegally.
In a statement on Friday, the department said the directive was introduced as an operational measure, but its implementation overwhelmed refugee reception offices within days, put officials at risk and led to threats to public safety and order.
The government has blamed disinformation surrounding the court ruling, stressing that the judgment did not automatically grant refugee status, permanent residence or other legal rights to undocumented migrants.
South Africa, Africa’s largest economy, has been grappling with a surge in anti-immigrant protests, straining relations with other African countries and forcing thousands of foreign nationals to leave.
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Migrants are frequently blamed for unemployment, crime and pressure on public services, although social scientists say the accusations are unsupported by evidence.
During Thursday’s protests, rioters set fire to 14 vehicles in Durban and 10 in Soweto, Johannesburg. Foreign-owned shops were also looted.
However, Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, a senior police official, said on Friday that calm had returned to Soweto. She spoke at a press briefing near the remains of the burnt vehicles.
In Durban, police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said the situation had stabilised, adding that a swift police response had prevented further damage.
