President Cyril Ramaphosa Sparks Frustration by Saying Security Cluster Is Monitoring Violent Unrest
- President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the media in Phuthaditjhaba about the violent protests that erupted in Durban and Soweto
- At least 24 vehicles were torched, and foreign-owned shops looted after Home Affairs began implementing a Constitutional Court asylum ruling
- South Africans weighed in on the President's stance on the matter, but many were not impressed with what he had to say
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
FREE STATE — President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the issue of violent protests in the country, saying that the government's security cluster was closely monitoring what happened in Durban and Soweto.
Speaking to reporters in Phuthaditjhaba on 9 October 2026, Ramaphosa said the priority was ensuring no lives were lost and that no community faced harm. Violent protests have broken out, resulting in cars being set alight, shops looted, and even some properties burnt.
"Our security cluster is on top of the situation. We're just working to ensure that there should be no loss of life... and that there should be no danger to any group of people in our country," Ramaphosa said.
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What sparked the protests?
The protests stem from a Constitutional Court judgment that ruled that certain provisions of the Refugees Act were unconstitutional because they blocked people from lodging asylum claims on procedural grounds alone, including irregular entry, the absence of an asylum transit visa, or missing the five-day reporting deadline.
Around 28 September 2026, Home Affairs issued an operational directive instructing Refugee Reception Offices to begin accepting such applications.
The directive triggered a rapid surge of applicants and lengthy queues, and led anti-illegal immigration groups to organise demonstrations against the processing. Home Affairs has since withdrawn the directive, but protests have been ongoing since 8 October 2026, and have been ongoing.
How did South Africans react?
@Gabbzfact1 asked:
"Is it time for monitoring or is it time for action?"
@Shoru2000
"Asylum seekers are armed. You saw that on TV, right? They are roaming the country armed. You think that's safe for SA? Please withdraw from those 1951 what what agreements. Did South Africans even agree to those agreements?"
@spinnermag stated:
"The country is burning. Have you noticed that two Constitutional Court judgments, both in 2021 and now in 2026, have caused havoc in the country. That's my observation.
@Jasondux305
"Oh, it's security concerns when South Africans air their frustration against your incompetence, but it’s never a security concern when all the rascals of this world come here illegally and endanger the lives of the locals."
@Truth2power_14 suggested:
"Someone is clearly funding and benefiting from this chaos caused in SA."
@Lungelo1576753 asked:
"Can he resign, because clearly he has failed us as South Africans?"
Phakel’umthakathi calls for calm in Durban
Nkosikhona Phakel’umthakathi Ndabandaba called for calm amid the escalating violence in the Durban Central Business District
Briefly News reported that shops were looted, vehicles torched, and several people were arrested during the unrest.
Speaking from the scene of the chaos, Ndabandaba warned leaders against inciting community members to commit acts of destruction.
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Source: Briefly News
