South Africa withdraws asylum directive after anti-migrant violence

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs has withdrawn a directive regarding asylum application processing following a wave of anti-migrant protests and violence in Johannesburg and Durban. The department announced the retraction on Friday, just one day after demonstrations turned violent.

During the unrest, protesters torched vehicles and looted foreign-owned shops. The clashes, fueled by immigration-related tensions, erupted directly between foreign nationals and anti-migrant local residents.