Anti‑Migrant Protests Turn Violent in Soweto and Durban After Misinformation on Court Ruling

Violent anti‑migrant protests erupted in Soweto and Durban on Oct 8, 2026, after false claims about a July constitutional court decision spread online. In Durban, a Reuters reporter saw five cars ablaze and foreign‑owned shops looted; police later confirmed at least 14 vehicles were set alight and a guest house and warehouse partially burned, prompting a deployment of additional officers. In Soweto, residents grabbed groceries from a shop owned by a Somali national, chased the owner away, and looted the premises before police arrived and dispersed the crowd. The unrest followed a demonstration by a group demanding that a refugee centre stop processing asylum applications. Government spokesperson William Baloyi said the violence was triggered by deliberate disinformation about the court ruling, which in July held that asylum seekers cannot be denied entry to the asylum system solely for procedural reasons such as illegal entry. Baloyi stressed the ruling does not automatically grant refugee status, permanent residence or other legal rights. Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane announced a press conference in Soweto to address law‑and‑order measures. South Africa has seen months of anti‑migrant marches this year, some turning violent and forcing thousands of African foreign nationals to flee, despite social‑scientist research finding no evidence that migrants take jobs, fuel crime or strain public services. The country remains deeply unequal, with about one‑third of the population unemployed, yet it stays Africa’s largest economy and continues to attract migrants.

Context

The court’s ruling aims to protect refugees from bureaucratic barriers, while the protests reflect long‑standing economic anxieties and misinformation that can quickly ignite unrest.