South Africa Withdraws Asylum Directive After Clashes

South Africa’s Home Affairs Department withdrew an asylum-processing directive on Thursday after clashes and property damage in Soweto and Durban, saying reception offices had been overwhelmed and public safety risks had emerged. Police said investigations into the violence were continuing. The directive followed a Constitutional Court ruling in July that removed procedural barriers to asylum applications. It instructed refugee reception offices to assist people who indicated they wanted to apply, including those who had entered the country irregularly. The ruling did not automatically grant refugee status. The department said the directive had overwhelmed offices within days and put officials at risk. It said it would begin a fresh process, but did not provide further details in the reports available. In Soweto, clashes occurred near a Home Affairs office in Orlando West, Johannesburg. Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesperson Xolani Fihla said nine vehicles were set alight and no injuries were reported. Police said shops owned by foreign nationals were looted and nearby roads were closed.