Crime & Justice
Anti-migrant protests turn violent as vehicles torched in Durban and Soweto
October 9, 2026 at 05:29 AM
Anti-migrant protesters torched vehicles and looted foreign-run shops in Durban and Soweto during demonstrations demanding refugee centres stop accepting asylum applications.
- Protesters torched vehicles and looted foreign-run shops Thursday after demonstrations demanding refugee centres stop processing asylum applications.
- Police said 14 vehicles were torched in Durban and 10 in Soweto, and three foreign nationals were arrested in Durban over an alleged assault.
- Police fired rubber bullets in Durban and gunshots were reported in Soweto during clashes between residents and foreign traders.
- Government spokesman William Baloyi said disinformation about a July Constitutional Court asylum ruling had triggered the violence.