South Africa anti-migrant protests turn violent in Durban and Soweto as cars are torched

Anti-migrant protests in South Africa turned violent on Thursday, with cars torched in Durban and Soweto and gunshots heard in the latter, Reuters reported. (https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-anti-migrant-protests-turn-violent-with-cars-torched-gunshots-2026-10-08/)

In Durban, unrest followed a protest demanding a refugee centre stop processing asylum applications, Reuters said. Early reports had about 10 vehicles overturned and torched and foreign-owned shops looted, News24 reported via Reuters; in Soweto, residents clashed with foreign shop owners, Newzroom Afrika reported via Reuters. (https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-anti-migrant-protests-turn-violent-with-cars-torched-gunshots-2026-10-08/)

Speaking in Soweto on Thursday evening, acting national police commissioner Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane put the toll at 10 vehicles torched in Soweto and 14 in Durban — vowing “police will hunt down those responsible”, with crime intelligence told to work around the clock. (https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-10-08-acting-police-commissioner-vows-to-hunt-down-those-behind-soweto-durban-vehicle-torchings/)

TimesLive reported Durban protesters torched at least 10 cars and set a building alight in an apparent revenge attack after a demonstrator was allegedly assaulted by foreigners, protesters claiming his leg was broken, with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas and three foreigners arrested over the alleged assault. (https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-10-08-watch-fiery-protests-in-durban-cbd-sparked-by-alleged-revenge-attack-police-stretched/)

EWN reported at least 14 cars torched in Durban’s CBD with no arrests yet, tensions later calming; the group “Soweto Uprising 2026” stormed a foreign-owned spaza shop on Khumalo Street, its leader Lungile Yende claiming they were “not looting” but “making space” for a South African occupant. (https://www.ewn.co.za/2026/10/08/tensions-calm-in-durban-cbd-following-violent-protests-and-looting) (https://www.ewn.co.za/2026/10/08/tensions-high-in-soweto-as-residents-storm-foreign-owned-spaza-shop)

The violence caps months of anti-migrant marches that drew international criticism, with migrants blamed for taking jobs, fuelling crime and straining services, claims social scientists say are unsupported, amid long refugee-office queues after a July court judgment on asylum access. (https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-anti-migrant-protests-turn-violent-with-cars-torched-gunshots-2026-10-08/)