Thursday’s demonstration turned violent following allegations that a foreign national had assaulted one of the protesters in Durban. Three foreign nationals were arrested in connection with the alleged assault, police said. In Durban, in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, protesters gathered outside a government refugee reception center demanding that it stop accepting asylum applications. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd as businesses in the city center closed their doors. “There were clashes between foreign nationals in the area and South African nationals,” senior local police official Xolani Fihla told state broadcaster SABC. “At this time, I can confirm that no injuries have been reported,” he added. Police said 14 vehicles were set on fire in Durban and 10 in Soweto, where gunshots were also reported during clashes between residents and foreign traders. Acting national police commissioner Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane condemned the destruction of property. In Orlando West, a neighborhood in Soweto, residents had initially gathered to demand the closure of small convenience stores, known locally as convenience stores. spaza, operated by foreign nationals. areas, while shops were attacked and a building was set on fire, local media reported. The ruling means asylum seekers should be allowed to apply even if they entered South Africa without the required documents. Government spokesman William Baloyi told Reuters news agency that people had deliberately spread false claims about the ruling, creating the impression that undocumented migrants would automatically be granted legal status. Baloyi insisted that the ruling does not automatically grant migrants refugee status or the right to remain permanently. South Africa Officials say applications will still be assessed individually and applicants will remain subject to immigration checks. Earlier this year, anti-immigration groups organized weeks of protests demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country by June 30. The protests forced tens of thousands of migrants to flee, with some returning home through repatriation programs organized by their governments. 2008, more than 60 people were killed and tens of thousands displaced during widespread attacks on foreign nationals. The latest unrest comes against a backdrop of widespread poverty, deep inequality and unemployment affecting around a third of the workforce. Migrants are often accused of taking jobs, contributing to crime and putting pressure on public services, although researchers say such sweeping claims are not supported by evidence. Despite its economic difficulties, South Africa remains one of the continent’s top destinations for seeking migrants. jobs, security and better opportunities by Christian Parkinson in Johannesburg.
