Anti-Migrant Violence Erupts in Soweto: Nine Vehicles Torched, Shots Fired
Violence erupted in Orlando East on Thursday, 8 October, as anti-migrant protests escalated into running battles between residents and foreign nationals, leaving nine vehicles torched and shots fired in the streets.
Police confirmed they are investigating reports that live ammunition was fired at demonstrators during the clashes near the Department of Home Affairs office in Orlando West. No injuries have been reported.
By Friday morning, police and South African National Defence Force vehicles were stationed around the Home Affairs office as hundreds of people queued for services, with tensions remaining highly explosive.
HOW THE VIOLENCE UNFOLDED
According to Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesperson Xolani Fihla, the violence began when a peaceful demonstration outside the Home Affairs office turned confrontational.
Community leader Tshepo Mposula said the demonstration started peacefully before residents moved to shut down foreign-owned spaza shops. He alleged that foreign nationals fired shots, which triggered the retaliatory burning of vehicles.
Resident Sifiso Zulu, from Orlando East, described the sequence of events: “We fought with the Somalians, when we were removing one of them in the area, he refused to open the shop and we started fighting with them. Police intervened, especially JMPD, and spoke to them and they didn’t listen. Then they came out, and we had a conflict with them. They took out a gun and fired shots, then JMPD responded, and that’s how we set the cars alight.”
Several cars were torched and spaza shops looted during the overnight clashes. Gunshots rang out late into the night.
THE ASYLUM RULING AT THE CENTRE OF THE STORM
The unrest follows a Constitutional Court ruling handed down on 7 July in the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town case. The court ruled that asylum seekers cannot be barred, detained, or deported due to procedural or technical immigration errors, including irregular entry or failure to meet strict reporting deadlines.
The Department of Home Affairs issued a directive on 28 September instructing Refugee Reception Offices to accept applications from all persons indicating an intention to seek asylum. However, the department was unprepared for the overwhelming response.
“We confirm that all refugee offices were overwhelmed by the numbers of those coming for applications,” the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration said after meeting on Wednesday night.
Authorities stressed that the ruling allowed people to have their claims assessed but did not automatically grant refugee status or permanent residence.
HOME AFFAIRS WITHDRAWS DIRECTIVE
On Friday morning, the Department of Home Affairs withdrew the directive that had expanded asylum application intake.
Director-General Livhuwani Tommy Makhode said the directive was a “purely operational attempt to support the implementation of the Court’s order” without the knowledge of the Minister or any political office-bearer. However, the department acknowledged that implementing the ruling had “immediately led to serious consequences” including overwhelmed offices, risks to staff, and threats to public safety.
The department said it would embark on a fresh process to determine the most appropriate operational approach to comply with the court order.
RESIDENTS: “TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE”
For many Soweto residents, the withdrawal came too late.
“I feel it’s too little, too late, because the damage is already done,” said Lindiwe Motjatau, a community member from Orlando West.
On Friday, community members and ActionSA supporters gathered outside Orlando police station, picketing and calling for arrested foreign nationals to be processed and deported.
“We don’t want the withdrawal, we want them to leave,” Motjatau said.
Residents also claim they discovered an internet cafe directly opposite the Orlando Home Affairs office that was allegedly issuing asylum documents to foreign nationals.
“We found an internet cafe opposite Home Affairs issuing asylum to foreigners. Home Affairs processes inside, then they print outside. We found the documents,” Zulu said.
The discovery has fuelled anger, with residents accusing officials of refusing South Africans access to Home Affairs while prioritising foreigners.
POLICE VOW ACTION
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane condemned the violence and warned that those responsible would face prosecution.
“The right to raise concerns and to protest does not give anyone the right to commit crime,” Dimpane said. “We will not allow violence, the torching of vehicles, destruction of property or attacks on people to continue. Anyone who chooses to break the law will be dealt with decisively, without fear or favour.”
Police have opened cases including malicious damage to property, common assault, and public violence. One person was arrested for looting.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi visited Soweto on Friday morning with Dimpane and other senior officials to survey the damage.
