Migrants leaving South Africa: No vegetables, no hairdresser, no gardener, and no construction worker

Over 160,000 African migrants have left South Africa, creating a severe labor shortage in key sectors such as agriculture, construction, and retail. The exodus has been driven by xenophobic campaigns that gained momentum over the past months, prompting many to flee the country. According to recent official figures, more than 108,000 returned to Zimbabwe, with 46,890 going back to Malawi. Mosambique reports around 2,000 returnees, though this number likely underrepresents the total, as estimates suggest approximately 20,000 have returned. Nigeria and Ghana have repatriated 1,490 and 926 citizens respectively, while Uganda, Lesotho, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo also report returning residents. At the busiest border crossing between South Africa and Zimbabwe, Beitbridge, the United Nations migration agency, IOM, along with the South African government, operates a reception center that processes between 1,000 and 2,400 individuals daily. This facility provides essential support including food, shelter, transportation, and medical care. The local charity “Gift of the Givers” has distributed over 75,000 meals and continues to offer blankets and guidance on future plans. Over 1,474 people have received medical attention at Beitbridge, and nearly 416 buses have transported returnees to their home communities across the country. In KwaZulu-Natal, one of South Africa’s most populous provinces, the sugar cane harvest faces serious threats due to the loss of migrant workers. More than 108,000 returnees from South Africa, over a tenth of Zimbabweans living there, have been accounted for, with the Zimbabwean government recovering about a third through organized repatriations. Others have returned independently, some via Botswana. So far, 15,065 returnees have registered as job seekers, primarily in domestic services, construction, and farming. South Africa is experiencing a critical labor shortage. In KwaZulu-Natal, sugar plantations report a severe lack of workers, with some fields facing potential crop losses. Pratish Sharma, president of the “Maidstone Local Grower Council” and a farmer at Tongaat, noted that some farmers have lost 100 workers and managed to find only 20 replacements. The impact extends beyond agriculture, affecting other industries reliant on migrant labor. Xenophobic groups in South Africa had imposed a deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave voluntarily or face forced removals. At least four deaths were linked to xenophobic violence during this period. Not only undocumented migrants have departed, but others have also left due to fears of discrimination. Some employers have stopped hiring foreigners, while others fear harassment by self-appointed authorities who randomly check documents. The promise that mass departures would create jobs for locals, a country with an official unemployment rate of 32 percent, has not materialized. Those leaving take their skills with them, and finding replacement workers in many trades is extremely difficult. In areas like Soweto, once bustling with migrant-run businesses, streets are now eerily quiet. In neighborhoods like Protea Glen, a middle-class suburb within Soweto, vegetable vendors and hair salons have largely closed down, with many returning to Mozambique. These businesses were once the backbone of local commerce, providing essential services to both residents and visitors. Their absence has left a noticeable void in everyday life.