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South Africa: Anti-migrant protests turn violent
DW.com • • world
Key Points:
- Anti-migrant protests in South Africa turned violent in Durban and Soweto, with cars set on fire, shops looted, and clashes between locals and foreign nationals reported.
- The unrest followed a court ruling that declared parts of the government's refugee policy unconstitutional, requiring the resumption of asylum application processing.
- The court found that denying asylum seekers based on procedural grounds, such as illegal entry, violated constitutional rights, prompting many to approach refugee centers.
- Despite the ruling, the government clarified that it does not automatically grant refugee status or permanent residence to asylum seekers.
- Xenophobic tensions have been rising amid economic challenges and high unemployment, with migrants often scapegoated despite evidence disproving claims that they increase crime or take jobs.
