Tensions High in Marabastad as Asylum Seekers Queue Amid Looming Protests
Massive queues formed outside the Department of Home Affairs offices in Marabastad, Pretoria, early this morning.
Dozens of asylum seekers arrived before dawn, seeking to process their applications following a landmark Constitutional Court ruling.
According to the SABC, heavily armed contingent of the South African Police Service (SAPS) remains on the ground. Law enforcement is monitoring the area closely ahead of a planned anti-foreigner demonstration by the “March and March” group, scheduled to take place outside the offices later this morning.
The sudden influx of applicants follows a major legal shift.
Just days ago, the Constitutional Court struck down key sections of the Refugees Act.
The overturned laws previously barred individuals from applying for asylum if they entered South Africa irregularly or failed to declare themselves within five days.
With Home Affairs officially directed to accept all applications regardless of entry status, refugee reception offices across the country are facing “significant pressure”.
The escalating situation has sparked community anxiety, prompting the “March and March” mobilization to protest the presence of undocumented migrants.
Local authorities confirm that the area remains under control, but police are maintaining a high-visibility presence to prevent clashes between demonstrators and those waiting in the queues.
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