Vehicles torched in South Africa as protests over asylum ruling rage on

Soweto erupted in violence on Thursday, 8 October, after residents clashed with foreign nationals on the back of a Home Affairs directive concerning asylum seekers. Several cars reportedly belonging to immigrants were set alight in Orlando West in a stand-off between residents and foreign shop owners. Goods belonging to some of the shop owners were also reportedly torched.

BREAKING NEWS Several cars have been set alight in Orlando West, Soweto, following clashes linked to tensions over foreign-owned spaza shops.At least 10 vehicles are reportedly burnt after a community protest outside the Home Affairs office escalated into clashes, with… pic.twitter.com/xWfA5tpxji— EAST RAND Crime Watch NEWS (ERCWN ) (@cbdoilRSA) October 8, 2026 Violence erupts in Orlando West Speaking to SABC News, Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesperson Xolani Fihla said residents who were protesting against the ruling reacted to gunshots fired towards them. “From the reports that we are receiving on the ground, there were shots that were fired allegedly towards the protesters, and this led to the retaliation and them burning vehicles within the area,” Fihla said. He said around nine vehicles were torched; however, there could be more.

Tensions escalated in Soweto between locals and foreign nationals following changes to the Refugee Act. Dozens have started applying for asylum status in the country. #Newzroom405's @NqobileMadlala_ reports from Soweto.Watch: https://t.co/m7Z0ozRrSz pic.twitter.com/rhtZ9Uim0y— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 8, 2026 “But at the present moment, I can confirm that no injuries have been reported, and our officers are still on the ground.” Fihla said the tensions have since died down.

Khumalo Road near the Hector Peterson Memorial and Museum has been closed to traffic as a result of the clash. Protest follows ConCourt asylum ruling Protestors took to the streets as they expressed their frustration over the directive following a Constitutional Court ruling in July. The apex court ruled that refugees and asylum seekers must be given the opportunity to access processing centres, regardless of whether they entered South Africa illegally.

In response to the ruling, the directive instructed refugee centres to cater for anyone wishing to apply for asylum status. “Every refugee reception office must, with immediate effect, receive every person who rep… JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Nine vehicles were set alight during clashes between South Africans and foreign nationals in Soweto, Johannesburg on Thursday, police said, amid protests over a court ruling that has brought crowds of applicants to asylum offices.