On 9 October 2026, groups of protesters gathered outside the Department of Home Affairs office in Pretoria’s Marabastad area, demanding the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals and the reconsideration of a recent Constitutional Court ruling on asylum seekers. Anti-immigrant groups moved through Luttig Street, threatening immigrant-run shops, including those operated by women and children, according to a community reporter from GroundUp.
The demonstration came shortly after Home Affairs withdrew a directive issued on 28 September aimed at implementing the July 7 Constitutional Court judgment that affirmed asylum seekers cannot be denied access to the asylum process solely due to procedural failures. The department clarified that the directive was an operational response and not politically motivated.
Violence linked to the asylum ruling also erupted in Johannesburg and Durban, where police reported the torching of 24 vehicles between the two cities, with 14 burned in Durban and 10 in Soweto. This unrest pressured Home Affairs to suspend the intake directive on the same day as the Pretoria protests, Reuters confirmed.
This Constitutional Court ruling clarified that while access to asylum applications must be open even to those who entered South Africa unlawfully or missed initial reporting deadlines, it did not grant automatic refugee status or permanent residence, nor did it legalise unlawful migration, stated the department and reported by Eyewitness News.
Protest organisers expressed frustration with the ruling and government policy. Sithembile Simelani, representing the March and March movement, said, “We feel vindicated, really, by the announcement that Home Affairs will be suspending this asylum application registration.” Meanwhile, Mandisa Xulu, spokesperson for the United Civic Organisation, demanded judicial accountability: “We want the judges to be audited, to have a lifestyle audit, because it highlights the fact that their integrity might be compromised.”
Mthetho Ngcukayithobi of the Progressive Forces of South Africa added, “It is very much unfair to find such a ruling that would cater for illegal people that are in the country while we have a backlog of IDs in home affairs.”
According to GroundUp, protesters issued direct threats against immigrant shopkeepers, warning, “Your time is up! We will lock you in your shops and set them on fire.” Members of Operation Dudula vowed to maintain a presence until the policy was reversed: “We are staying here until the Home Affairs staff leave and make sure no immigrant accesses the services. We will be back on Monday and every day after that until they change this policy.”
The Department of Home Affairs acknowledged the unintended fallout of trying to apply the court’s judgment swiftly, noting, “The attempt to practically implement the judgment immediately led to serious consequences that could not have been foreseen in the court order.”
The Pretoria protest highlights the ongoing tension in South African communities over immigration policy amid national debates on legal status, service backlogs, and social cohesion. Violence and threats of intimidation against immigrant communities remain a significant concern. Police intervention and the government’s next steps toward balancing legal obligations with social stability are expected to follow in coming days.
At this time, precise figures on the size of the Pretoria crowd, any injuries sustained, and full police reports on the scene remain unconfirmed. Cape Flats News will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as new information becomes available.