South Africa pause applications from asylum seekers wey be undocumented migrants afta violent protests

Di South African govment on Friday, 9 October, announce say dem dey withdraw one controversial directive wey regard di intake of asylum seeker applications from pipo wey bin enta di kontri illegally.

Di move dey come hours afta violent anti-migrant protests rock some areas of di kontri including for Soweto near Johannesburg and di coastal city of Durban.

Di kontri Home Affairs department tok for one statement say operations bin dey overwhelmed within a mata of days afta di directive bin dey issued, and say govment officials dey at risk.

Dis directive bin come into force on September 28 afta constitutional court ruling say migrants wey bin enta di kontri illegally no suppose dey denied access to di asylum application process.

Di move bin lead to long queues of migrants outside many govment buildings. Migration na big issue for South Africa and di court ruling cause anger amongst some anti-migrant groups, wey lead to outbreaks of violence.

On Thursday, protesters burn cars and some foreign-owned shops bin dey attacked. Di govment say today U-turn no be political decision and say dem go explore oda ways of honouring di Constitutional Court ruling.

Police tok say dem arrest three foreign nationals wey get connection wit di alleged assault.

For Durban, for di eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, protesters gada outside one govment refugee reception centre and demand make dem stop accepting asylum applications.

Police fire rubber bullets to disperse the crowd as businesses for di city centre close dia doors.

"Dia bin clashes between foreign nationals for di area and South African nationals,' senior local police officer Xolani Fihla tell state broadcaster SABC.

"At di moment, I fit confirm say no injuries bin reported," e add.

Police tok say dem 14 vehicles for Durban and 10 for Soweto, and dem hia gunshots for di confrontations between residents and foreign shop Owners.

Acting national police commissioner Lt Gen Puleng Dimpane don condemn di destruction of property.

For Orlando West, one area of Soweto, residents first gada to demand di closure of small convenience stores, wey pipo locally call spaza shops, operated by foreign nationals.

Protesters force foreign traders comot from some areas, while dem attack shops and set one building on fire, according to local media reports. Police tok say dem don deploy more officers to prevent further violence.

Di authorities don promise to go afta those responsible for the destruction.

Di latest unrest follow a July ruling by di Constitutional Court, South Africa's highest court, wey cancel restrictions wey prevent some pipo from seeking asylum bicos of how dem enter di kontri or bicos dem miss immigration deadlines.

Di judgment mean say asylum seekers go be allowed to submit applications, even if dem enter South Africa witout di required documents.

Dis make hundreds of pipo gada for refugee reception centres, increasing anger among anti-immigration campaigners wey fear say di decision go encourage undocumented migration.

Govment tok tok person William Baloyi tell Reuters say some pipo deliberately spread false claims about di judgment, creating di impression say undocumented migrants go automatically get legal status.

Baloyi insist say di ruling no automatically give migrants refugee status or di right to stay permanently for South Africa.

Officials tok say dem still go assess applications one by one and applicants still go undergo immigration checks.

Earlier dis year, anti-immigration groups organise protests for several weeks and demand make undocumented foreign nationals leave di kontri by 30 June.

Di protests force tens of thousands of migrants to flee, wit some returning home through repatriation programmes organised by dia govments.

South Africa don struggle wit xenophobic attacks for nearly two decades.

For 2008, more dan 60 pipo die and tens of thousands bicom displaced during widespread attacks on foreign nationals.

Di latest unrest happun against di backdrop of widespread poverty, deep inequality and unemployment wey affect roughly one-third of the workforce.

Pipo often accuse migrants of taking jobs, contributing to crime and putting pressure on public services, although researchers tok say evidence to support those broad claims.

Despite its economic challenges, South Africa still remain one of di continent major destinations for migrants wey dey seek employment, safety and beta opportunities.