Immigrants leave South Africa: No vegetables, no hairdresser, no gardener, no construction worker

Following months of xenophobic campaigns and violence in South Africa, over 160,000 African immigrants have fled the country, with Zimbabwe taking in 108,360 returnees, Malawi 46,890, and Mozambique an estimated 20,000. The exodus has caused severe labor shortages across sectors, from small-scale township trade to large-scale agriculture. In KwaZulu-Natal, sugarcane harvests are at risk of rotting due to a lack of workers. The departure of skilled immigrants—including vegetable vendors, hairdressers, gardeners, and construction workers—has contradicted the promise that their removal would create jobs for locals in a country with 32% unemployment. Xenophobic groups had set a June 30 deadline for 'illegal' immigrants to leave voluntarily, and at least four people have died in related violence. The Beitbridge border crossing now processes up to 2,400 returnees daily, with aid organizations providing food, shelter, and medical care.