Foreign nationals wait for transport as repatriation efforts continue following anti-illegal immigration protests and intensified immigration enforcement across South Africa.
Thousands of migrant workers have allegedly lost their jobs, businesses are reporting growing shortages of skilled labour, and parts of the country's transport and agricultural sectors say they are beginning to feel the economic effects of South Africa's anti-illegal immigration campaign, weeks after protests demanding the removal of undocumented foreign nationals swept across the country.
What started as isolated demonstrations in May gathered momentum ahead of the self-imposed June 30 deadline set by anti-illegal immigration groups such as March and March and the Labour and Civic Organisation (LACO), which demanded undocumented foreign nationals leave South Africa.
Since then, protests have continued across parts of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, with Cape Town becoming a focal point for demonstrations targeting foreign-owned spaza shops, traders, and businesses accused of employing undocumented migrants.
While LACO has maintained that its campaign aims to create employment opportunities for unemployed South Africans, there is little independent evidence that the jobs vacated by foreign nationals are being filled by locals.
