South Africa: Surge in Violence in Soweto and Durban Over Asylum Rights

At least 24 vehicles were set on fire and shops looted on Thursday in South Africa during protests against a court decision easing access to asylum. The violence occurred in Soweto, near Johannesburg, and Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, with three arrests made in Durban. Police condemned the acts and promised a firm response amid ongoing anti-immigrant tensions following a South African Constitutional Court ruling that removed certain procedural barriers to asylum applications, leading protesters to demand the expulsion of illegal foreigners.