South Africa’s agriculture, manufacturing and domestic service sectors are facing mounting labour shortages after more than 160,000 foreign workers reportedly left the country following anti-migrant protests and intensified immigration enforcement.
The mass departure, triggered by growing hostility toward undocumented migrants, has left farms struggling to harvest crops, factories unable to meet production targets and employers searching for experienced workers. The exodus followed an unofficial June 30 deadline issued by anti-foreigner groups demanding that undocumented migrants leave the country.
Among those affected is Aaron Majatamhe, a Zimbabwean farmworker employed in one of South Africa’s leading citrus-producing regions. Speaking about the situation, he said many farmers are running out of workers at a critical period of the harvest.
“I see a lot of farm owners who are crying now. People have to harvest those naartjies but there is no one,” Majatamhe said, adding that vineyards are also beginning to experience similar shortages as the grape season approaches.
Zimbabwean authorities, whose citizens make up the largest share of those returning home, said many of the migrants had been employed in farming, construction and domestic work across South Africa. In KwaZulu-Natal’s sugar-producing region, some farmers reported losing up to 80 percent of their cane-cutting workforce within weeks, raising fears of reduced production and possible disruptions at sugar mills.
Farm owners argue that replacing experienced migrant workers has proven difficult, insisting that many South Africans are unwilling to take on physically demanding agricultural jobs. However, labour unions strongly reject that claim. They argue that with unemployment exceeding 33 percent, many citizens are ready to work but are overlooked because some employers prefer migrant labour, which they say is often cheaper and less likely to demand formal employment benefits or legal protections.
The labour shortage is also affecting the manufacturing sector. A clothing factory manager in Durban said the departure of skilled machinists from countries such as Malawi and Mozambique has slowed production and made it harder to fulfil customer orders. According to the manager, training new workers to reach the same level of experience will take considerable time.
Responding to growing public concern over migration, the South African government has expanded its Trusted Employer Scheme, allowing qualifying companies to fast-track work visas while prioritising the employment of South African citizens. At the same time, agricultural industry leaders are urging authorities to introduce a regulated seasonal worker programme for neighbouring Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, arguing that some industries cannot function without migrant labour.
For many migrants, however, the debate has become secondary to concerns about personal safety. Police data indicates that at least four foreign nationals have been killed during recent tensions, while several migrants reported being targeted during raids in communities where they lived. Although some have chosen to return home, others, like Majatamhe, say financial hardship leaves them with few options.
“We are afraid to stay even in this place, but the problem is, we don’t have enough money to go home,” he said.
