Protesters camp outside Durban Home Affairs, vow to block reopening

A group of people campaigning against illegal immigration has vowed to remain outside the Durban Home Affairs refugee reception centre.

The centre became the focal point for protests this past week, after foreign nationals were allowed to lodge applications for asylum.

Marches against this process, following a Constitutional Court ruling in July, descended into violence in the Durban CBD on Thursday and Friday.

BREAKING NEWS: The Home Affairs department has now withdrawn a directive regarding the intake of asylum applications.

People who were against the directive took part in protests this week.

Cars were set on fire and shops looted in Durban and Soweto yesterday. https://t.co/Fd62mKLbFw — Thembekile (@ThembiMrototo) October 9, 2026 Although Home Affairs has since suspended that process, a member of the group, Felemtwini Gumede, says they will camp outside the centre to prevent it from opening.

Gumede also criticised the arrest of their leader.

“Our brothers who have been arrested, the police don’t even know why they arrested them.

If you go to the police now, they won’t be able to tell you why we are standing here.” VIDEO | Protests over asylum application processing at Durban Home Affairs’ Refugee Reception Centre