South Africa deploys army after violent protests
In Durban, the army is patrolling alongside police after demonstrations over asylum applications ended in damage and arrests.
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South Africa has deployed troops in central Durban following violent protests over asylum applications and migration. According to public broadcaster SABC, nineteen people have been detained; police and army are patrolling the city together.
The deployment of the South African National Defence Force follows protests in which shops and other businesses were damaged. According to the provincial authorities, police were overstretched because demonstrators spread across different parts of the city.
The demonstrators demanded, among other things, the return of people without valid residency status and an end to asylum applications. The immediate cause was a ruling by the Constitutional Court on access to the asylum procedure, the South African broadcaster eNCA reports.
According to eNCA, people must be given a fair opportunity to apply for asylum, even when they do not have all the required documents. The demonstrations were therefore directed not only against migration, but also against how the court ruling works in practice.
Police had previously said they were trying to maintain public order while also respecting the right to peaceful protest. Additional police resources were deployed in Durban. The authorities called for calm as the investigation into damage and arrests continues.
SABC reports that soldiers patrolled the city centre alongside police on Saturday. The deployment is intended to safeguard security after shops and businesses were damaged. It has not been reported how long the military presence will last.
The protests come against a backdrop of longstanding tensions over jobs, public services, border control and the reception of asylum seekers. Many migrants from other African countries live in South Africa, while civil-society organisations warn of violence and discrimination against foreigners.
The development is relevant to the Netherlands because South Africa is an important regional economy and trading partner. Unrest in Durban could also affect businesses, shops, transport and the reputation of the port city. For now, there is no indication that the unrest is spreading to the Netherlands.
The available reports do not provide a complete picture of the number of injured people, the total damage or the legal status of all those arrested. Nor has it been established that all demonstrators used violence. The allegations and figures should therefore be assessed by source and point in time.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The army is patrolling Durban alongside police.
- The protests concerned asylum applications and migration.
- Arrests and damage to shops and businesses have been reported.
- The precise scale of the damage and the duration of the deployment remain unclear.
Left
Arguments The government must protect access to asylum and basic rights while also combating violence against migrants. Under this approach, the problems should be addressed through better reception facilities, fair procedures and investment in neighbourhoods where scarcity and unemployment are increasing tensions.
Values Human rights, equality before the law, non-discrimination and social protection.
Consequences A militarising response could damage the trust of migrants and civil-society organisations while leaving the underlying problems unresolved.
Centre
Arguments The state must both comply with the court ruling and maintain public order. This requires clear asylum procedures, border management, sufficient police capacity and temporary security measures that are legally limited.
Values The rule of law, administrative feasibility, security and proportionality.
Consequences A controlled deployment could prevent further damage, but without a clear duration and oversight, a temporary measure could become normalised.
Right
Arguments Supporters of a tougher approach will emphasise that the government must protect its own residents and local businesses first. They believe illegal migration and abuse of asylum procedures should be tackled more quickly.
Values National control, public order, enforcement and protection of local services.
Consequences Tougher border and asylum policies could increase support among concerned residents, but may conflict with court rulings and increase the risk of discrimination.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
Reporting by SABC and eNCA confirms the deployment of the army, the reason for it and the reported arrests. The text explicitly marks missing information about injuries, damage and legal proceedings as uncertain.
- confirmed The South African National Defence Force has been deployed in central Durban. — SABC News reports the deployment on 10 October 2026. source
- confirmed Nineteen people have been detained. — This figure appears in the SABC report. source
- confirmed The protests were linked to asylum applications and migration. — SABC and eNCA describe this as the reason for the protests. source
- confirmed The total damage and duration of the army deployment have not yet been established. — The reports consulted provide no definitive figures or end date. source
Editor's note
It is certain that troops were deployed in Durban following protests over asylum applications and that arrests and damage have been reported. The scale of the damage, the duration of the deployment and the legal outcome of the arrests are not yet fully known.Sources
- SANDF deployed in Durban CBD after violent protests — SABC News
- SANDF arrives in Durban — eNCA
- Vehicles torched in South Africa as protests over asylum ruling rage on — Associated Press
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „zuid-afrika durban”
- NOS — „zuid-afrika durban”
- Het Parool — „zuid-afrika durban”