South Africa migrant exodus leaves farms and factories short

South Africa's migrant exodus is leaving farms, factories and households short of workers after more than 160,000 foreign nationals left amid anti-migrant protests, deadly violence and intensified immigration enforcement.

The figure is based on an AFP tally of government repatriation data. Fringe anti-foreigner groups had set June 30 as an unofficial deadline for undocumented migrants to leave, triggering departures by workers from sectors including farming, domestic work and construction.

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. Another grower near Mid-Illovo, south of Durban, said fields were ready to be cut but there were not enough workers.

Zimbabwean farmworker Aaron Majatamhe told AFP that some farm owners were struggling to harvest citrus and that the same shortage was looming in vineyards.

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. She said it would take time for local workers to master the job.

Unions and researchers dispute the idea that South Africans are unwilling to work, pointing to unemployment above 33 percent. They argue that some employers prefer migrant workers because they are cheaper, more flexible and less likely to demand formal contracts, benefits or legal protections.

Patrick Williams, a local organiser with the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union, said foreign farmworkers were often paid below the national minimum wage and worked long hours to maximise piece-rate earnings.

The government has promoted a "locals first" approach while acknowledging that some industries rely on foreign skills and labour. Last week it expanded its Trusted Employer Scheme, which fast-tracks worker visas for companies that meet requirements including mainly employing South Africans, investing in skills development and working in priority sectors.

Industry groups are urging legal pathways for seasonal foreign labour. Siyabonga Madlala, chief executive of the South African Farmers Development Association, told Newsroom Afrika that South Africa may need a special dispensation for seasonal labour from Southern African Development Community countries where local supply is insufficient.

Police data cited by AFP says at least four foreigners have been killed. Some foreign governments have reported a higher death toll. President Cyril Ramaphosa has called attacks on foreign nationals sad and abhorrent and urged coordinated action across Africa to manage migration.

Some migrants who left said they feared for their safety after door-to-door raids. Majatamhe said he remained in South Africa for now because he did not have enough money to go home.