South Africa's Economic Shock: Incomes Plummet as Immigrants Depart

Mayville, a community outside Durban, is grappling with the complex and often distressing issue of immigrant displacement, revealing a stark contrast between economic realities, humanitarian concerns, and official responses. Landlords, immigrants, and local authorities are all navigating the fallout from a climate of fear and xenophobia.

Charity Sithole, a local landlord, embodies the paradox of the situation. She rented five rooms to immigrants for R700 each, generating R3,500 a month—her sole income as she is unemployed. However, due to widespread fear, three of her long-term tenants have already left, with the remaining ones also planning to depart. Sithole expresses profound dismay, questioning the absence of 'Ubuntu' (a Nguni Bantu term often translated as 'humanity towards others') in the treatment of foreign nationals. While she does not condone illegal immigration and advocates for respect for the law, she firmly believes in treating all individuals with dignity, compassion, and humanity, lamenting the economic impact on herself and the moral decline she perceives.

The stories of immigrants highlight personal struggles and forced departures. Emanuel Chalongo, who arrived from Zimbabwe at the start of the year, is now desperate to leave South Africa by June 30. He reports significant difficulty in securing permanent employment, as employers are hesitant to hire immigrants due to pressure from movements like 'March and March.' Chalongo found work at a spaza shop for a mere R500, significantly below the national minimum wage of R1,055, replacing someone who was chased away by the same movement. Similarly, Mabhembha Gelenge from Mozambique, who came to South Africa to work and save money for a business back home, is now returning as soon as he can afford the ticket, though he hopes to come back eventually. Not all immigrants are in immediate panic; an anonymous Ethiopian tuckshop owner in Mayville stated he is not worried about any 'deadline' as he possesses all necessary documents for his business, asserting he has nothing to hide. However, other immigrant shop owners in the area are too fearful of being targeted to speak out publicly.

The broader community also feels the impact. John Mkhize, founder of the Cato Manor Masibambisane, an HIV/AIDS support organization based in Mayville, observed that many immigrant-run stalls selling essential goods like fruit and vegetables have vanished, with no one stepping in to replace them, indicating a ripple effect on local commerce and access to goods.

Amidst this growing crisis, authorities are struggling to cope with the influx of displaced individuals. The City of Ethekwini issued a statement urging residents, government authorities, and organizations to cease directing displaced immigrants to the Old Drive-In, which had been set up earlier as a relocation site. The city clarified that the Durban Drive-In site is not designated as a provincial reception center, transit facility, or accommodation site for foreign nationals from other parts of South Africa. The municipality reported that an overwhelming 12,800 people had arrived at the site since the beginning of the week, with 11,000 subsequently repatriated, underscoring the immense scale of the displacement and the challenges faced by local government in managing the situation.