About 15 masked vigilantes armed with sticks and knobkerries harassed asylum seekers at the Durban Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road around 12:30pm on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, according to a GroundUp report. The group barged into the parking area, pushed those waiting in line, and shouted xenophobic insults before police intervened and removed them.
Wandile Mhlongo, identified as the group’s leader, told reporters the purpose of their protest was “to block people from seeking asylum in South Africa.” He was later allowed inside the centre to observe operations, according to GroundUp.
Xolani Zuma, husband of March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, joined the scene and called on Home Affairs to stop processing refugees, arguing the department’s resources should be reserved for South Africans.
By the end of the day, officials had reportedly processed only 20 asylum seekers while the remainder were asked to return the next day, GroundUp reported. Efforts to independently confirm this figure remain ongoing.
The protests follow the reopening of South Africa’s asylum system for new applications after nearly six years of closure, a result of a Constitutional Court ruling delivered in July 2026. Home Affairs resumed accepting applications under a directive that followed this ruling, placing increased demand on refugee reception offices.
According to EWN, similar anti-illegal immigration groups have vowed to continue disrupting services at the Durban centre. Police have since issued stern warnings after unrest linked to protests, including vehicle torching in Durban and Soweto, as reported by SABC News.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, SAPS spokesperson, said at a media briefing that “The right to raise concerns and to protest does not give anyone the right to commit crime.” Police maintained a visible presence to restore order around Home Affairs offices.
This disruption at the Durban Refugee Reception Centre highlights the tension between pro-immigration policies upheld by the courts and rising local hostility towards asylum seekers, which has led to repeated incidents of intimidation and violence in recent months.
The exact details of the Constitutional Court ruling reopening the asylum system and other procedural matters are still being verified. Cape Flats News will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as further information becomes available.