Durban CBD KZN

Durban CBD KZN Tension erupted into violent chaos in the heart of the Durban CBD on Thursday, as demonstrators set at least three vehicles ablaze in overturned cars along Dr. Pixley KaSeme Street, leaving thick black smoke towering over the city center. The destruction follows intense demonstrations led by the March and March movement, whose members marched into the inner city after storming and forcibly shutting down the Department of Home Affairs Refugee Reception Center on Moore Road. The group demanded an immediate halt to all asylum seeker application processing, sparking a tense standoff with authorities before spilling directly into the business district. The sudden wave of arson along Dr. Pixley KaSeme Street sent panic through surrounding blocks, forcing shop owners to rapidly shutter their doors and secure their premises against potential looting. The burning wreckage and makeshift road barricades brought traffic along major transport corridors to a complete standstill. Leaving commuters gridlocked during peak movement. In response, Public Order Policing Units, SAPS, and Ethekwini Metro Police deployed tear gas and formed heavy tactical lines to disperse the crowds. Fire crews moved an under-armed police escort to extinguish the flaming vehicles and clear debris from the roadway. Law enforcement agencies remain on high alert throughout the city center, maintaining a visible presence to prevent secondary flare-ups, while official investigation is Authorities continue to issue urgent advisories warning motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Durban CBD until security teams fully restore order.