Crisis in Durban

As xenophobic rhetoric and street thuggery – carried out with impunity – have escalated in Durban, and in smaller towns in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, refugees have been forced from their homes and had their businesses shut down. A number of people have been assaulted, and many have been threatened and instructed not to go to work or take their children to school. The police systematically refuse to open cases.

At the same time many now find themselves undocumented as Home Affairs has failed to renew their papers on time.

On the morning of 18 May 2026, refugees who are no longer safe in the neighbourhoods where they are living in Durban, or have been forced out of small towns like Estcourt, approached the Refugee Social Services office in Durban to seek protection and urgent assistance. Community members explained that they feared for their lives and requested the protection of the police. However, they were informed that the police could not guarantee protection against threats from the xenophobic groups and were advised to seek assistance from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

At approximately 11:00 am, refugees and migrants arrived at Durban Central Police Station, where community leaders held meetings with police officers throughout the day. At around 4 pm, Metro Police official Naicker and Colonel Sithole from the Durban Central SAPS informed the group that men would be accommodated at the tented site near the Elangeni Hotel on North Beach, while women would be taken to the shelter site on Mansel Road.

At approximately 5:45 pm, refugees and migrants were escorted to these sites by Metro Police and SAPS officers. However, upon arrival, both men and women were refused accommodation. People already staying at the sites stated that there was no space for additional occupants, while security personnel indicated that they had not been informed that new people would be arriving.

At the Mansel Road site, tensions escalated and women seeking shelter were chased away. One woman’s blouse was torn during the confrontation, which took place in the presence of police officers who did not intervene.

By approximately 6:30 pm, the men were instructed to return to Durban Central Police Station. The women returned later, at around 7:00 pm, after being unable to access shelter safely.

As a result, all the refugees and migrants seeking protection were forced to sleep on the pavement and parking area outside Durban Central Police Station overnight.

The following day, 19 May 2026, police used batons, tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets against the unarmed and peaceful people gathered outside the police station. There are multiple reports that live ammunition was used. There is video evidence to confirm that a number of people were seriously injured. The police attempted to arrest Rev. Raphael Bahebwa, President of the Congolese Solidarity Campaign, but he was protected by the people. The police said that unarmed peaceful people were ‘causing chaos’ and some of the media reported this as fact.

The group then moved about four kilometres away to the Diakonia Centre, a church building where Abahlali baseMjondolo has its offices. Upon arrival, community leaders were called into a meeting with church leaders, the local councillor, human rights lawyers, and representatives from Refugee Social Services. The central question discussed in the meeting was what steps would be taken to ensure the safety and protection of the people affected.

During the meeting, the local councillor stated that the people would need to vacate the area, and requested that the leaders prepare a memorandum outlining the demands and concerns of the community. However, the meeting ended without any concrete solution being reached. The people indicated that they would remain and sleep outside for a second night.

On the morning of 20 May 2026, another meeting was held at the Abahlali baseMjondolo office. This meeting included representatives of Abahlali baseMjondolo, human rights lawyers, Refugee Social Services, and refugee leaders from different countries. The outcome of the meeting was that all possible actions would be taken to ensure the safety of the refugees.

A later meeting was then held with representatives from the Department of Home Affairs, senior police officials, other stakeholders, and refugee leaders. The outcome of this meeting was that the police and Home Affairs wanted all refugees to undergo a verification process at the Refugee Reception Centre on Moore Road in Durban at 10 am on 21 May 2026. The problem with this is that many people have been made undocumented by the failure of Home Affairs to renew their papers.

Some people had not eaten for two days and today Gift of the Givers arrived at the Diakonia Centre with food, which is much appreciated. Today around three buses of people were taken to Home Affairs for verification. Others are too frightened to go. The local councillor insists that the refugees must leave the area by tonight but they have nowhere to go.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and March and March are outside and have tried on a number of occasions to enter and attack us. The police are pushing them out but they did manage to enter on one occasion and assaulted two people.

The situation is chaotic and we cannot give an accurate number of people. However, it is not less than 500.

The Congolese Solidarity Campaign calls on the relevant authorities, humanitarian organisations, and progressive organisations to urgently intervene to ensure the safety, dignity, and protection of all refugees and migrants affected by this situation. People urgently need safe accommodation, food and psychological support.

We also express our respect and gratitude to the progressive organisations, intellectuals, lawyers, and movements in South Africa that have shown solidarity with refugees and migrants during this difficult time, including Abahlali baseMjondolo, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA), the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI), and others who continue to stand for human dignity and justice in these difficult and dangerous times.

We also need to note that the statement issued by the police this morning that said that our organisation had organised people to approach the police station seeking protection is not correct. The group of people seeking protection included people from Rwanda and Burundi, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo. Members of our organisation were there in our individual capacities.