DURBAN – More than 160 000 foreign workers have fled South Africa in recent weeks following deadly anti-migrant protests and increased immigration enforcement, leaving critical industries facing severe labour shortages.

The exodus began after fringe anti-foreigner groups set 30 June as an unofficial deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country. At least four foreigners were killed during the unrest, according to police data.

Zimbabwe accounted for the largest share of those returning home, with many having worked in South Africa’s farming, domestic work and construction sectors.

Immediate impact on agriculture

The agricultural sector has been hit hardest. In KwaZulu-Natal’s sugar belt, one farmer on the north coast 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,” said the farmer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared retaliation.

In the Western Cape’s fruit-producing regions, unharvested citrus fruit remains on trees whilst vineyards face critical labour shortages during grape harvest season.

Aaron Majatamhe (33), a Zimbabwean farmworker, described the crisis: “I see a lot of farm owners who are crying now… people have to harvest those naartjies but there is no one. It’s time to cut off the grapes and there is no one.”

Another grower near Mid-Illovo, south of Durban, said most cane cutters in his area came from Lesotho. “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.

Factories face skills shortage

Manufacturing has also been affected. In Durban’s Chatsworth industrial area, a clothing factory manager 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, speaking anonymously. She added it would take time for local workers to master the job.

Disputed claims

The labour shortage argument is disputed by unions and researchers, who point to South Africa’s unemployment rate of above 33 percent.

Patrick Williams, a local organiser with the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union, argued that many employers favour migrant workers because they are cheaper and less likely to demand formal contracts or legal protections.

“They are making a profit out of foreign nations,” Williams said. He claimed foreign farmworkers routinely worked seven days a week, skipped lunch breaks to maximise piece-rate earnings and were often paid below the national minimum wage.

Government response

The government has responded by promoting a “locals first” approach whilst acknowledging that some industries rely on foreign skills and labour.

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. Siyabonga Madlala, chief executive of the South African Farmers Development Association, suggested South Africa should consider a regulated seasonal worker programme similar to one in the United States.

“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.

Personal toll

For those who left, safety concerns have outweighed economic considerations.

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.

“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.

Majatamhe, the farmworker, has decided to remain for now despite the risks. “We are afraid to stay even in this place, but the problem is, we don’t have enough money to go home,” he said.