Cars torched in South Africa's wave of protests against new asylum rules
Police reported vehicles burned during anti-migrant protests in Johannesburg and Durban on Thursday, with 10 burned in Johannesburg and 14 in Durban.
Violence erupted on Thursday in Soweto and Durban. Protesters demanded that refugee centres stop processing asylum applications.
Police said 10 vehicles were burned in Johannesburg and 14 in Durban. Three people were arrested in Durban.
Reuters and AFP reporters saw looted foreign-owned shops and police firing rubber bullets at crowds. The unrest followed a July court ruling that made it easier to seek asylum.
It removed barriers like requiring proper visas or meeting reporting deadlines. Government officials blamed false claims about the ruling for the violence.
- 24 total: 10 in Johannesburg, 14 in Durban
- Vehicles burned
- Soweto, Johannesburg and Durban
- Protest locations
Why it mattersThe violence shows tensions over migration and jobs. In this country, about a third of people are out of work.
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