Foreign-owned shops have been looted in Soweto, Johannesburg, as protests against foreign nationals turned violent, with several vehicles set ablaze and businesses targeted.
The unrest erupted on Thursday, October 8, 2026, as residents protested outside Home Affairs offices over a recent Constitutional Court ruling concerning asylum applications. Demonstrators have demanded stricter immigration enforcement and the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.
According to reports, protesters stormed foreign-owned convenience stores in Soweto, removing goods from shops and demanding that the businesses be taken over by South African citizens. At least 10 vehicles were reportedly set on fire in the township, while similar violence occurred in Durban, where 14 vehicles were torched.
South African authorities said the protests were fuelled partly by misinformation about the court ruling, which removed certain procedural barriers preventing asylum seekers from applying for protection. The government stressed that the decision does not automatically grant undocumented migrants refugee status or permanent residence.
Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane condemned the violence and warned that destroying property and attacking people would not be tolerated. Police were deployed to affected areas, and three foreign nationals were reportedly arrested in Durban.
The latest incidents come amid growing anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa, where foreign nationals have faced protests and calls for their businesses to be shut down.
