Johannesburg Migration Crisis: Mayor Dada Morero Calls for Calm Amid Soweto Protests and Spaza Shop Regulations

JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG — As the Johannesburg migration crisis continues to spark community unrest, Mayor Dada Morero has called for calm following violent protests in Soweto and the recent withdrawal of a Department of Home Affairs asylum directive.

The Department of Home Affairs recently withdrew a directive issued on September 28 that had expanded the intake of asylum seeker applications. This expansion was initially prompted by a Constitutional Court ruling delivered in July, which directed the department to reopen applications. However, the pushback against the court order has only recently materialized, culminating in severe unrest. Yesterday, clashes in Soweto resulted in the exchange of gunfire and the torching or damaging of at least 10 vehicles.

Mayor Morero, who was in the area on a fact-finding mission, visited the Home Affairs office in Orlando West to assess the pressures faced by local government branches. During his visit, he was briefed by the acting station commander of the Orlando police station and the manager of the Home Affairs Orlando West office. Both officials confirmed that the situation at the office was quiet and stable, with operations continuing normally. The South African Police Service (SAPS) remained on-site to mend gates and ensure that residents could safely access the facility.

Addressing the recent violence, Mayor Morero explained that the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and SAPS were deployed in full force to stabilize the area. He noted that while the freedom of protest is protected by the Constitution, criminal elements often exploit peaceful marches. According to the Mayor, the recent violence stemmed from a clash between a spaza shop owner and a group of marchers. The spaza shop owner allegedly fired a shot, leading to his detention and a retaliation from the marchers that resulted in seven to eight cars being burnt down.

When questioned about the timing of the public pushback against the Constitutional Court order, Mayor Morero pointed to the country’s approaching elections, which he said has led to varied interpretations of the Home Affairs directive. He noted that the Home Affairs Minister spoke recently to put the directive into proper context for South Africans. Morero emphasized that the media has a role to play in explaining the implications of the Constitutional Court judgment for both South African citizens and foreign nationals, while stressing that all protests must remain peaceful.

A central issue driving community frustration is the regulation of spaza shops. Mayor Morero expressed deep disappointment that fewer than 150 spaza shops have registered with the city to access government subsidies and startup funding. Because the registration response has been slow, the majority of operating spaza shops remain unregistered and are not South African-owned. Consequently, the government is unable to disburse funding to these unregistered entities.

Outlining the pathway forward, the Mayor urged South African entrepreneurs to take the opportunity to register their businesses seriously. He stressed that registered owners must also comply with necessary building control and health regulations to ensure their shops are profitable and safe for the community.

Mayor Morero placed partial responsibility on local citizens for the current landscape, noting that South Africans are the ones providing leases and trading space to unregistered operators. He called on the community to help turn the situation around by bringing businesses into the formal sector. While the Department of Economic Development and the city are putting resources in place to assist compliant entrepreneurs, the Mayor drew a firm line on enforcement: spaza shops that fail to comply with building controls and regulations will continue to be closed down.