Clashes in Durban as fresh anti-migrant riots erupt in South Africa

South African police battled Friday to control rioters and looters in the east coast city of Durban amid a second day of unrest targeted at foreign nationals.

Large mobs moved through the city, kicking in shop windows and hurling bricks and bottles in violence that echoed weeks of protests that led thousands of nationals from other African nations to flee earlier this year.

Clashes broke out on Thursday after anti-migrant marches in Durban and Johannesburg against government orders for refugee reception offices to resume processing asylum applications.

Hoping to quell the anger, the government announced Friday that it had withdrawn the instructions, which followed a Constitutional Court ruling.

But crowds of rioters, many armed with long sticks, moved through areas of Durban where students and foreign nationals live and work, an AFP reporter said.

Police fired tear gas and stun grenades to try to disperse the protesters.

One migrant told journalists he was beaten and injured by South Africans who stole his wallet and phone. He was taken to safety by police.

Elsewhere, three houses were set alight and shops looted.

"I decided to come to the march because I'm concerned about what is happening in this country," said Vusi Gumede, a 43-year-old demonstrator.

"I'm concerned about the drugs, I'm concerned about human trafficking," he said, blaming foreign nationals for the issues.

"If government is not watching..., there will be more of this."

Protesters also marched to the offices of the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg, where at least 10 vehicles were set alight late Thursday in the Soweto district.

"We are dealing with the challenges that are now unfolding in Durban and our security cluster is on top of the situation," President Cyril Ramaphosa told journalists.

"We are just working that there should be no loss of life, and that there should be no danger to any group of people in our country."

Clashes erupted in Johannesburg and Durban, where a building was set on fire. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP)

The order to process asylum applications resulted in long queues of foreign nationals outside the centres, angering groups behind the push to force undocumented migrants to leave South Africa by a June 30 deadline.

The Home Affairs Department said it had led to its offices being "overwhelmed within a matter of days" and "serious threats to public safety and order".

Africa's wealthiest nation has long been a magnet for migrants from elsewhere on the continent.

It has experienced periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence for nearly two decades, sometimes based on disputed claims that foreign nationals take scarce jobs and resources from locals.

Several cars were torched in Durban after clashes erupted between protesters and foreign nationals. By RAJESH JANTILAL (AFP)

Populist groups leading demonstrations accuse migrants of taking jobs and services from locals, a key issue for local government elections on November 4.

At least four foreign nationals have been killed in violence this year, according to the South African police, though some African governments said the toll was higher.

The largest numbers of foreign nationals to leave were from Zimbabwe and Malawi.

Nationals of Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda also fled, some repatriated by their government and raising diplomatic tensions.