Durban (South Africa) (AFP) – Zimbabwean farmworker Aaron Majatamhe was heading home at sunset after a shift in one of South Africa's top fruit-producing regions, where bushes laden with bright unpicked citrus stood in rows.
Issued on: 26/07/2026 - RFI
Factories, farms and ordinary households across South Africa are scrambling for labour after thousands of foreign workers left © RODGER BOSCH / AFP
"I see a lot of farm owners who are crying now... people have to harvest those naartjies but there is no one," the 33-year-old told AFP.
The same shortage, he said, is looming in the vineyards. "It's time to cut off the grapes and there is no one."
Similar scenes are playing out across South Africa as factories, farms and even ordinary households scramble for labour after thousands of foreign workers left in a matter of weeks to escape deadly anti-migrant protests and intensified immigration enforcement.
Fringe anti-foreigner groups had set June 30 as an unofficial deadline for undocumented migrants to go home, triggering the exodus of more than 160,000 people, according to an AFP tally based on figures from African governments repatriating their citizens.
Zimbabwe, which accounted for the largest share of those returning, said many had worked in South Africa's farming, domestic work and construction sectors.
"I see a lot of farm owners who are crying now... people have to harvest those naartjies but there is no one," the 33-year-old told AFP.
The same shortage, he said, is looming in the vineyards. "It's time to cut off the grapes and there is no one."
Similar scenes are playing out across South Africa as factories, farms and even ordinary households scramble for labour after thousands of foreign workers left in a matter of weeks to escape deadly anti-migrant protests and intensified immigration enforcement.
Fringe anti-foreigner groups had set June 30 as an unofficial deadline for undocumented migrants to go home, triggering the exodus of more than 160,000 people, according to an AFP tally based on figures from African governments repatriating their citizens.
Zimbabwe, which accounted for the largest share of those returning, said many had worked in South Africa's farming, domestic work and construction sectors.
More than 160,000 migrants left in a matter of weeks, most of them Malawians and Zimbabweans © MARCO LONGARI / AFP
The first cracks were felt almost immediately in KwaZulu-Natal's sugar belt.
One farmer on the north coast said he lost up to 80 percent of his cane-cutting workforce virtually overnight.
"Production and supply have deteriorated to the point where it is going to be difficult for the mills to stay open," he said, speaking anonymously because he feared retaliation.
'Back-breaking' work
Another grower near Mid-Illovo, a region of rolling hills south of Durban, said most cane cutters in his area came from Lesotho, the tiny kingdom encircled by South Africa.
"There are fields we are supposed to be cutting, but there are just not enough people. Local people don't like this job because it is back‑breaking and physical," he said.
That argument is fiercely disputed.
The first cracks were felt almost immediately in KwaZulu-Natal's sugar belt.
One farmer on the north coast said he lost up to 80 percent of his cane-cutting workforce virtually overnight.
"Production and supply have deteriorated to the point where it is going to be difficult for the mills to stay open," he said, speaking anonymously because he feared retaliation.
'Back-breaking' work
Another grower near Mid-Illovo, a region of rolling hills south of Durban, said most cane cutters in his area came from Lesotho, the tiny kingdom encircled by South Africa.
"There are fields we are supposed to be cutting, but there are just not enough people. Local people don't like this job because it is back‑breaking and physical," he said.
That argument is fiercely disputed.
Many South African employers favour migrant workers because they are cheaper, more flexible and less demanding © RODGER BOSCH / AFP
With unemployment above 33 percent -- and far higher when discouraged job seekers are included -- labour unions and researchers argue there is no shortage of South Africans willing to work.
Instead, they say, many employers favour migrant workers because they are cheaper, more flexible and less likely to demand formal contracts, benefits or legal protections.
"They are making a profit out of foreign nations," said Patrick Williams, a local organiser with the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union.
Foreign farmworkers, he said, routinely worked seven days a week, skipped lunch breaks to maximise piece-rate earnings and were often paid below the national minimum wage.
'Locals first'
For employers, the challenge is not only finding workers, but replacing years of experience.
In Durban's Chatsworth industrial area, a manager at a clothing factory said the departure of skilled machinists from Malawi and Mozambique had left factories struggling to meet orders.
"We can barely meet our targets because most were forced to go," she said on condition of anonymity, adding it would take time for local workers to master the job.
The government has sought to respond to public anger over migration by promoting a "locals first" approach, while acknowledging that some industries rely on foreign skills and labour.
With unemployment above 33 percent -- and far higher when discouraged job seekers are included -- labour unions and researchers argue there is no shortage of South Africans willing to work.
Instead, they say, many employers favour migrant workers because they are cheaper, more flexible and less likely to demand formal contracts, benefits or legal protections.
"They are making a profit out of foreign nations," said Patrick Williams, a local organiser with the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union.
Foreign farmworkers, he said, routinely worked seven days a week, skipped lunch breaks to maximise piece-rate earnings and were often paid below the national minimum wage.
'Locals first'
For employers, the challenge is not only finding workers, but replacing years of experience.
In Durban's Chatsworth industrial area, a manager at a clothing factory said the departure of skilled machinists from Malawi and Mozambique had left factories struggling to meet orders.
"We can barely meet our targets because most were forced to go," she said on condition of anonymity, adding it would take time for local workers to master the job.
The government has sought to respond to public anger over migration by promoting a "locals first" approach, while acknowledging that some industries rely on foreign skills and labour.
Groups against illegal migration have threatened foreigners, in some cases destroying shops and property © MZINGENKOSI SIBANDA / AFP
This week it expanded its Trusted Employer Scheme that fast-tracks worker visas for companies that meet requirements including predominantly employing South Africans, investing in skills development and operating in priority sectors.
Industry groups are urging the government to create legal pathways for seasonal foreign labour, arguing that sectors such as agriculture have become dependent on migrant workers and cannot replace them overnight.
South Africa should consider a regulated seasonal worker programme similar to one in the United States, said Siyabonga Madlala, chief executive of the South African Farmers Development Association.
"There may be a need for a special dispensation allowing seasonal labour from SADC countries where local supply is insufficient," he told Newsroom Afrika, referring to the 16-member Southern African Development Community bloc.
More than 60 percent of South Africa's immigrants are estimated to come from SADC.
Yet for many who left, the debate over labour policy has been eclipsed by fears for their safety after at least four foreigners were killed, according to police data.
Wayne Chimbadzwa Mutasa, a Zimbabwean national who had lived in Robertson since 2014, said he left after foreign workers were targeted in door-to-door raids.
This week it expanded its Trusted Employer Scheme that fast-tracks worker visas for companies that meet requirements including predominantly employing South Africans, investing in skills development and operating in priority sectors.
Industry groups are urging the government to create legal pathways for seasonal foreign labour, arguing that sectors such as agriculture have become dependent on migrant workers and cannot replace them overnight.
South Africa should consider a regulated seasonal worker programme similar to one in the United States, said Siyabonga Madlala, chief executive of the South African Farmers Development Association.
"There may be a need for a special dispensation allowing seasonal labour from SADC countries where local supply is insufficient," he told Newsroom Afrika, referring to the 16-member Southern African Development Community bloc.
More than 60 percent of South Africa's immigrants are estimated to come from SADC.
Yet for many who left, the debate over labour policy has been eclipsed by fears for their safety after at least four foreigners were killed, according to police data.
Wayne Chimbadzwa Mutasa, a Zimbabwean national who had lived in Robertson since 2014, said he left after foreign workers were targeted in door-to-door raids.
There are calls for a regulated seasonal labour programme drawing workers from the region © RODGER BOSCH / AFP
"The people who came into the houses of Zimbabweans were police officers saying that you are living here illegally," he told AFP as he prepared for repatriation.
His fellow national Majatamhe, the farm worker, has decided to remain for now.
"We are afraid to stay even in this place, but the problem is, we don't have enough money to go home," he said.
strs-ho/br/giv
© 2026 AFP
Ghanaians ask ICC to investigate xenophobic violence in South Africa
Two Ghanaian nationals have petitioned the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary investigation into attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, arguing the violence could amount to crimes against humanity, as Ghana's president repeated his call on Thursday for the African Union to address the ongoing unrest.
Issued on: 24/07/2026 - RFI
State failings
Citing Article 7 of the ICC's Rome Statute, the two Ghanaian plaintiffs contend that widespread and systematic attacks against a civilian population could constitute crimes against humanity.
"While we commend individuals in South Africa who have condemned these acts, the pattern, scale and recurrence of the violence raise serious questions about the failure of state authorities to prevent, investigate and punish these crimes," their statement said.
The ICC has confirmed receiving a petition from two Ghanaians requesting a preliminary examination into recurring xenophobic attacks and alleged crimes against humanity in South Africa. The court has not yet said publicly whether it will consider the demand.
A spokesperson for South Africa's foreign affairs ministry said the petition was opportunistic.
"South Africa has a sophisticated domestic legal framework and legislation provides comprehensive safeguards and enforcement measures against discrimination of any kind, including intolerance on the grounds of social origin," spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told Reuters news agency.
President Ramaphosa has previously condemned the attacks and warned against scapegoating immigrants for deep-rooted problems.
South Africa unrest grows as migrants become ‘scapegoats’
Thousands leave country
As the wealthiest country on the continent, South Africa has long been a destination for documented and undocumented African workers searching for work. For years, it has experienced periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence.
Xenophobic groups set a deadline for undocumented migrants to leave by 30 June, and citizens of other African countries flocked to consulates and community halls seeking transport home.
More than 160,000 foreign nationals have left South Africa over the past two months, according to an AFP tally based on figures from the repatriating governments.
The largest numbers to leave this year are from Zimbabwe and Malawi, but hundreds more are from other countries including Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda.
Two Ghanaian nationals have petitioned the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary investigation into attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, arguing the violence could amount to crimes against humanity, as Ghana's president repeated his call on Thursday for the African Union to address the ongoing unrest.
Issued on: 24/07/2026 - RFI
Anti-immigrant protesters march in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 9 July 2026. The country has seen a tide of demonstrations and violence against foreign residents.
© REUTERS - Oupa Nkosi
Submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 15 July, the petition alleges a "pattern of widespread and systematic attacks" against migrants in South Africa and accuses President Cyril Ramaphosa's government of failing to prevent or punish those crimes.
The petition was filed by Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a former Ghanaian government spokesperson on governance and security, and Emmanuel Kotin, a counter-terrorism and security analyst.
"For years, African brothers and sisters have been killed, beaten and driven from their homes in South Africa," they said in a press release.
South Africa has been gripped by a surge in anti-immigrant protests in recent months, accompanied in some cases by violence against foreigners, whom protesters blame for problems such as crime and unemployment.
Submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 15 July, the petition alleges a "pattern of widespread and systematic attacks" against migrants in South Africa and accuses President Cyril Ramaphosa's government of failing to prevent or punish those crimes.
The petition was filed by Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a former Ghanaian government spokesperson on governance and security, and Emmanuel Kotin, a counter-terrorism and security analyst.
"For years, African brothers and sisters have been killed, beaten and driven from their homes in South Africa," they said in a press release.
South Africa has been gripped by a surge in anti-immigrant protests in recent months, accompanied in some cases by violence against foreigners, whom protesters blame for problems such as crime and unemployment.
Zulu protesters in Durban on 30 June 2026. Thousands of demonstrators massed across South African cities on the same day to vent anger at undocumented foreign nationals, as police mounted a major operation to head off looting and xenophobic violence. © AFP - RAJESH JANTILAL
Several African migrants have been killed in the unrest, while others have been beaten and have seen their homes and shops looted. Tens of thousands have fled the country.
Ghana's President John Mahama on Thursday reiterated his call for the African Union (AU) to address the wave of anti-immigrant violence, which he said was "escalating".
"Sweeping the matter under the carpet will not resolve the root causes," the President said, adding that he had secured a commitment to discuss the topic at the next AU summit.
Several African migrants have been killed in the unrest, while others have been beaten and have seen their homes and shops looted. Tens of thousands have fled the country.
Ghana's President John Mahama on Thursday reiterated his call for the African Union (AU) to address the wave of anti-immigrant violence, which he said was "escalating".
"Sweeping the matter under the carpet will not resolve the root causes," the President said, adding that he had secured a commitment to discuss the topic at the next AU summit.
South Africa protesters confront migrant homes during nationwide marches
State failings
Citing Article 7 of the ICC's Rome Statute, the two Ghanaian plaintiffs contend that widespread and systematic attacks against a civilian population could constitute crimes against humanity.
"While we commend individuals in South Africa who have condemned these acts, the pattern, scale and recurrence of the violence raise serious questions about the failure of state authorities to prevent, investigate and punish these crimes," their statement said.
The ICC has confirmed receiving a petition from two Ghanaians requesting a preliminary examination into recurring xenophobic attacks and alleged crimes against humanity in South Africa. The court has not yet said publicly whether it will consider the demand.
A spokesperson for South Africa's foreign affairs ministry said the petition was opportunistic.
"South Africa has a sophisticated domestic legal framework and legislation provides comprehensive safeguards and enforcement measures against discrimination of any kind, including intolerance on the grounds of social origin," spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told Reuters news agency.
President Ramaphosa has previously condemned the attacks and warned against scapegoating immigrants for deep-rooted problems.
South Africa unrest grows as migrants become ‘scapegoats’
Thousands leave country
As the wealthiest country on the continent, South Africa has long been a destination for documented and undocumented African workers searching for work. For years, it has experienced periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence.
Xenophobic groups set a deadline for undocumented migrants to leave by 30 June, and citizens of other African countries flocked to consulates and community halls seeking transport home.
More than 160,000 foreign nationals have left South Africa over the past two months, according to an AFP tally based on figures from the repatriating governments.
The largest numbers to leave this year are from Zimbabwe and Malawi, but hundreds more are from other countries including Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda.
Malawi nationals seeking to return home wait to be processed by border officials in Durban, South Africa, on 25 June 2026. © Rogan Ward / Reuters
Zimbabwe's government said this week that 108,366 of its nationals had come home as of 18 July.
Malawi announced on Monday that more than 46,890 citizens had returned since early June, with the government providing 699 buses for the journey home. Six people died in transit.
Nigeria has said two of its nationals were killed in "the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks of migrants".
Ghana said one of its citizens died in a Cape Town township in "anti-immigrant demonstrations linked to ongoing xenophobic attacks".
Nearly 2,000 Mozambicans also returned, according to South African government figures.
Some crossed the border with help from their government after two Mozambican nationals were killed at the end of May after a protest in the southern town of Mossel Bay. They were the first people to die in the latest unrest.
(with newswires)
Zimbabwe's government said this week that 108,366 of its nationals had come home as of 18 July.
Malawi announced on Monday that more than 46,890 citizens had returned since early June, with the government providing 699 buses for the journey home. Six people died in transit.
Nigeria has said two of its nationals were killed in "the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks of migrants".
Ghana said one of its citizens died in a Cape Town township in "anti-immigrant demonstrations linked to ongoing xenophobic attacks".
Nearly 2,000 Mozambicans also returned, according to South African government figures.
Some crossed the border with help from their government after two Mozambican nationals were killed at the end of May after a protest in the southern town of Mossel Bay. They were the first people to die in the latest unrest.
(with newswires)
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