DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal — An illegal immigration protest outside the Durban Home Affairs refugee reception centre has intensified, leading to violent clashes between demonstrators and police on Che Guevara Road.
Tensions boiled over on Tuesday when a group of protesters allegedly contravened the conditions of a Durban High Court interdict. According to police, the demonstrators marched outside of specified hours, carried weapons, and covered their faces. When the crowd allegedly pelted officers with stones, police retaliated by deploying stun grenades and tear gas to disperse the crowd and clear the area outside the reception centre. Despite the police intervention and use of force, the group later returned to occupy the premises.
The current encampment consists of residents and groupings opposed to illegal immigration who have been camping outside the Home Affairs office since September. Initially a small group, their numbers have grown significantly, with protesters now sleeping, cooking, and camping on-site around the clock. Their primary demand is for the government to ensure that undocumented individuals in Durban are not issued documents by this specific office.
The ongoing squabbles have severely impacted operations, forcing the Home Affairs office to remain closed since September. The Department of Home Affairs is yet to provide clarity on whether asylum and refugee applications are still being processed and how the continuous protest is affecting day-to-day administrative functions.
The site has a complex recent history. Previously, foreign nationals camped outside the building, claiming to be refugees and asylum seekers holding valid permits. Following discussions with Home Affairs and citing safety concerns in their local villages, those foreign nationals were compromised and relocated to the Lindela repatriation centre. Before their relocation, the foreign nationals faced accusations of breaking municipal bylaws, prompting the current anti-immigration protesters to demand that the city strictly enforce its bylaws.
The protest leader visited the area on Tuesday to address the marchers during the clashes with police. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the standoff over immigration enforcement and document processing remains unresolved.
