Anti-migrant protests turn violent in South Africa

Protests against migrants in two South African cities including Johannesburg’s Soweto turned violent on Thursday, with the government blaming disinformation over a court ruling on asylum seekers.

Government spokesperson William Baloyi said the violence was triggered by people spreading deliberately false information about a constitutional court ruling in July.

The unrest followed a protest by a group demanding that a refugee centre stop processing asylum applications.

According to Reuters report, residents were seen carrying groceries out of a shop in Soweto that was owned by a person from Somalia, whom they chased away. The looters fled after police arrived and made them disperse.

South Africa’s highest court ruled that asylum seekers cannot be denied access to South Africa’s asylum system solely for procedural reasons such as having entered the country illegally.

Baloyi said the ruling had been widely misrepresented and did not automatically grant refugee status, permanent residence or other legal rights to undocumented migrants. “We are deeply concerned by what is going on now,” he added.

Police said at least 14 vehicles had been set alight while a guest house and warehouse were partially burned in Durban.

South Africa has seen months of anti-migrant marches this year that have drawn international criticism.

Migrants are often blamed for taking jobs, fuelling crime and straining public services, claims that social scientists say are not supported by evidence.

Some of the marches have turned into violence and looting, with thousands of African foreign nationals fleeing the country.

Three decades since apartheid ended, South Africa remains deeply unequal and about a third of people are out of work. Despite this, it remains Africa’s largest economy and continues to draw migrants.