‘We have a right’: Protesters block Durban Home Affairs as leader vows to stay

Protesters block Durban refugee reception centre; leader says she will remain on site

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of the group March and March, vowed to remain camped outside the Department of Home Affairs’ Durban Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road on Thursday, as protesters blocked access to the building and a strong police presence lined the street.

What happened and where

Anti-illegal immigrant groups gathered outside the Durban Home Affairs reception centre, singing struggle songs and chanting slogans while confronting people attempting to enter the building to lodge or follow up on asylum applications. Protesters say they camped outside the centre overnight and would not be moving.

Police deployment and on-the-ground conditions

Public Order Police equipped with riot gear formed a line along the pavement outside the reception centre. Media reporting noted that riot police were deployed after protesters blocked access to the centre, and officers positioned themselves in anticipation of potential flare-ups and road closures.

By 9am on Thursday, protesters were patrolling surrounding streets; some carried sticks and knobkerries. Authorities dispersed thousands of asylum seekers from the reception centre as tensions mounted, leaving many unable to enter the facility.

What the protesters want

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the Department of Home Affairs should prioritise clearing its backlog and identifying applicants with legitimate refugee claims. She accused asylum seekers of abusing the country’s refugee system and said the group was acting on behalf of the broader public.

“We have a right to express our dissatisfaction in our country, and that it was a democracy is all about. We will continue demonstrating until government finds a way out of this mess.”

“March and March is doing this for the entire country and not for me personally. Enough is enough. Government is slow to react to issues around illegal immigrants,”

Impact on asylum seekers and service delivery

The blockade prevented many asylum seekers from reaching the Durban reception centre to progress applications or attend scheduled matters. Thousands were reported to have been dispersed from the centre on Thursday as the protest escalated.

Protesters also marched from the reception centre to King Dinuzulu Park while continuing to chant and sing, contributing to the disruption around the facility.

Refugee Appeals Authority response

The Refugee Appeals Authority (RAA) issued a notice urging asylum seekers with pending appeals to report to the Authority’s offices for the service and acknowledgement of notices related to their appeals. The RAA highlighted the priority backlog programme designed to expedite outstanding appeals.

Under Rule 10 of the Refugee Appeals Authority Rules, appellants are ordinarily entitled to receive at least 30 days’ notice of a hearing. The RAA said that, given the urgent circumstances and the need to address pending appeals swiftly, affected appellants are invited to consent to a reduced notice period of 10 days. The Authority explained that consenting to the reduced notice period would allow it to schedule and finalise hearings on an expedited basis.

The RAA also warned that failure to report for service of notices could result in an appeal being determined on the documents before the Authority, as provided for in law.

Why this matters

Disruptions at a refugee reception centre affect both individuals seeking asylum and the administrative processes intended to resolve claims. When centres are inaccessible, appellants may miss formal notices or hearing dates, potentially narrowing the time available to respond or to provide evidence. The RAA’s move to offer a reduced notice period is a procedural response aimed at limiting further delay in finalising outstanding appeals.

At the same time, public demonstrations targeting asylum facilities can raise tensions on the ground, requiring a measured policing response to protect access to services and maintain public order.

Immediate consequences

• Access to the reception centre was blocked, preventing many asylum seekers from entering.
• Thousands of asylum seekers were dispersed from the area as tensions rose.
• Police in riot gear lined the street outside the centre to manage the situation.
• The RAA called on appellants to report to its offices and consent to a reduced notice period where possible.

What to watch next

Officials and the RAA will be expected to continue efforts to finalise outstanding appeals while balancing the need to ensure appellants receive proper notice. How authorities manage access to reception centres and the safety of asylum seekers and staff will determine whether services can resume normally in the short term.

Reporting for this article is based on an update from IOL detailing a protest outside the Durban Refugee Reception Centre and statements from March and March and the Refugee Appeals Authority.