The South African government has withdrawn a directive on processing asylum applications following xenophobic clashes that left vehicles burnt, foreign-owned shops looted and several areas affected by violence.

The Department of Home Affairs announced the decision on Friday, saying the directive had triggered “serious consequences” and overwhelmed refugee reception offices within days of its implementation.

The department said its officials had been placed at risk and that serious threats to public safety and order had emerged, adding that a fresh process would be initiated.

The directive had required refugee reception offices to process asylum applications following a Constitutional Court ruling that certain procedural barriers facing asylum seekers were unconstitutional.

However, the move prompted hundreds of people to visit refugee reception offices, reigniting tensions over immigration and the presence of foreign nationals in the country.

Violence broke out on Thursday in Soweto, Johannesburg, and Durban, a major port city on South Africa’s east coast, following protests organised by groups opposed to illegal immigration.

In Durban, at least 14 vehicles were set ablaze and a municipal building was set on fire. Police said three foreign nationals were arrested for allegedly assaulting a South African protester.

In Soweto, at least 10 vehicles were torched, while small convenience stores were looted.

South Africa, the continent’s wealthiest nation, has long attracted migrants from other African countries but has experienced recurring outbreaks of xenophobic violence over nearly two decades.

The unrest has often been fuelled by disputed claims that foreign nationals take jobs and compete with South African citizens for scarce resources.

Tensions over illegal immigration have intensified ahead of local government elections scheduled for November 4, with unemployment above 30 per cent remaining a major concern.

At least four foreign nationals were killed in violence earlier this year, according to South African police, although some African governments reported a higher death toll.

The latest tensions have also prompted some foreign nationals to leave the country. Previous waves of violence led to the departure of citizens from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda.

Some were repatriated by their governments, triggering diplomatic tensions with Pretoria.