The departure of foreign nationals from several South African communities is beginning to affect employers, landlords and service providers, with some businesses reporting labour shortages and declining income following recent anti-immigration protests.
While demonstrations have largely focused on undocumented migrants, employers and residents say many documented foreign nationals have also chosen to leave because of growing concerns about safety and uncertainty.
The trend has created challenges in sectors that have long depended on migrant labour, particularly agriculture, domestic work and township rental accommodation.
Labour-intensive industries report growing worker shortages
Ginger farmer Edward Latsky, who operates one of South Africa’s few commercial ginger farms in Ohrigstad, Mpumalanga, said his business has been severely disrupted after most of his workforce left.
According to Latsky, his farm contributes roughly 30% of the country’s ginger production, but operations were temporarily halted after repeated incidents involving groups arriving at the property and allegedly intimidating workers.
He said only seven of his original 50 employees remain despite all of them possessing valid documentation.
Latsky added that several workers living in nearby villages were reportedly forced to leave their homes, while personal belongings were stolen during the unrest.
Attempts to recruit replacement workers from neighbouring communities also proved difficult. Although dozens of people applied for a limited number of positions, disagreements among community representatives reportedly escalated into confrontations, highlighting the tensions surrounding local employment opportunities.
South Africa’s agricultural sector has historically relied on migrant workers, particularly in labour-intensive farming industries where seasonal and specialised skills are often required.
Housing market and domestic employment also affected
The impact has extended beyond farms.
An elderly landlord in Ivory Park near Midrand said most of her tenants, many of whom were foreign nationals, have already vacated their rental rooms.
She explained that although some tenants had legal immigration status, they chose to leave because they feared becoming targets during anti-immigration protests.
Accommodation consultant Given Mashele said his business has also slowed significantly because many of his clients were migrants living in Johannesburg North townships.
With fewer foreign residents seeking accommodation, demand for his services has dropped sharply.
Individual households are facing similar dilemmas.
A Zimbabwean domestic worker said she was asked to leave by her employer, who feared possible legal consequences if authorities suspected that undocumented migrants were being employed.
She said her family had originally moved to South Africa during Zimbabwe’s prolonged economic crisis under former President Robert Mugabe but now feels compelled to return home.
Another Johannesburg resident said she recently dismissed her Malawian gardener after he was unable to obtain legal documentation despite several attempts through the Department of Home Affairs.
She acknowledged the decision was emotionally difficult but said employers are increasingly worried about potential penalties, including fines that can reportedly reach100,000rand for employing undocumented foreign nationals.
Recent immigration enforcement campaigns and community-led protests have intensified public debate over illegal immigration, labour enforcement and border management in South Africa. At the same time, some employers argue that the departure of experienced migrant workers is beginning to expose labour gaps in sectors that have depended on foreign workers for many years.
Source: Adapted from local media reports.