Migrant labour shortage leaves farms and factories short-staffed, report says

South African farms and factories are facing acute staff shortages after a recent wave of anti-migrant unrest, according to reporting by The South African. The disruption has left harvests and production lines struggling as foreign workers depart in large numbers.

Workers flee after unrest

According to The South African, more than 160 000 foreign workers have fled South Africa in recent weeks, chased out by anti-migrant unrest. The exodus has affected both agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

Harvests and factories disrupted

Following the March & March shutdown on 30 June 2026, factories and farm fields sit empty, The South African reports. One sugarcane farmer lost 80% of his cutting crew overnight, and citrus and other fruits are reported to be hanging unpicked, rotting mid-harvest.

Manufacturing in Durban

Chatsworth clothing factories in Durban have reported similar losses. Skilled machinists from Lesotho and Mozambique are gone, and factories say they can barely hit their targets due to the migrant labour shortage, according to The South African.

Why employers relied on foreign labour

The South African says employers have preferred hiring foreign workers precisely because they’re cheaper and easier to exploit, not because locals would not do the work. The departure of those workers has therefore created an immediate staffing gap.

Implications and next steps

The reporting highlights a tension between employers’ reliance on migrant labour and the sudden loss of that workforce. The immediate consequences include unharvested crops and missed manufacturing targets. The article notes the disruption followed the shutdown at the end of June.

Questions for policymakers and industry

• How agricultural and manufacturing operations will respond to the sudden loss of experienced workers.
• The impact on production schedules and supply chains while employers seek replacement labour.

Reporting in this article is based on coverage by The South African.