Durban – President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured South Africans that the government’s security cluster is monitoring the situation in Durban after anti-immigration protests turned violent, prompting police to fire tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
The protests on Friday followed a Constitutional Court ruling that refugees and asylum seekers must be allowed to access application processing centres, regardless of whether they entered South Africa illegally.
Speaking to the media in the Free State, Ramaphosa said authorities were responding to the unrest and hoped to prevent further violence.
[WATCH] On the sidelines of his visit to Phuthaditjhaba, President @CyrilRamaphosa addresses questions from the media on the government’s response to unfolding security concerns.
The President says the security cluster is assessing developments and monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of all communities and prevent harm.
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) October 9, 2026
“We are dealing with the challenges that are now unfolding in Durban, and our security cluster is on top of the situation,” he said.
“And we are just hoping that there should be no loss of life and that there should be no danger to any group of people in our country.”
The unrest extended beyond Durban, with reports of vehicles being set alight in Soweto and outside the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Police also used rubber bullets to disperse protesters outside the court.
The Department of Home Affairs withdrew its directive on processing asylum applications on Friday following the outbreak of violence, while the broader situation was assessed.
Government acknowledges public concerns
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia acknowledged that South Africans had legitimate concerns about illegal immigration and its perceived impact on service delivery and unemployment.
However, he warned against violence, saying demonstrations should remain within the law.
Protesters attempt to loot shops amid ongoing unrest in Durban. Tune in to #eNCA, on #DStv403. https://t.co/1DE8OQxKGn
— eNCA (@eNCA) October 9, 2026
“We are a country of laws. If we are all law-abiding, we can make a lot more progress in our society. Instability and violence do not serve our interests,” Cachalia said.
He also questioned whether the Constitutional Court’s ruling had fully considered the practical difficulties of implementation.
“I don’t think the court took account of the administrative complications and the resources that are required to give effect to their judgment,” he said.
Cachalia said the government was seeking a legal opinion on whether to ask the Constitutional Court to adjust its order to address the implementation challenges.
He further warned that violent protests divert police resources from other critical safety concerns, including gender-based violence.
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Source: AFP
