South African Farmer Halts Operations As Foreign Workers Flee Amid Immigration Protests
A South African ginger farmer has halted work after most of his foreign employees left amid immigration protests and alleged intimidation. The disruption has also spread to landlords and businesses that relied on foreign nationals as workers, tenants and clients.
The impact is now being felt in farming and accommodation, with some documented migrants also reportedly leaving South Africa because of safety fears.
Ginger Farmer Loses Most Of His Foreign Workers
The Citizen reported on 10 July 2026 that Ohrigstad farmer Edward Latsky had stopped operations after his workforce fell from 50 to just seven.
Latsky, who produces about 30% of South Africa’s ginger, said:
“I had to halt all work on the farm because buses and groups of people kept showing up to intimidate and even threaten us with death.”
He said police managed the immediate situation but did not stop the unrest from continuing.
Latsky added:
“Of my 50 legitimate workers, only seven remain.”
The farmer said his employees had valid documents but claimed this did not protect them from being removed.
“But they don’t care if they documented foreigners or illegal foreigners; they remove everyone,” he said.
Landlords Lose Tenants As Migrants Leave South Africa
The effects have also reached Ivory Park outside Midrand.
An elderly landlord told The Citizen that eight of her 10 tenants had already left. The remaining two were preparing to return to Malawi.
She said:
“Some of them were even documented, but they were fearing for their lives.”
Accommodation consultant Given Mashele said his business had also been badly affected after foreign clients left Johannesburg North.
“In this part of the city, there were many foreign nationals, but all of them left; even those who were documented have left,” Mashele said.
Zimbabwean Domestic Worker Prepares To Return Home
A 50-year-old Zimbabwean domestic worker said her employer had asked her to leave over fears linked to employing and housing an undocumented migrant.
She said:
“My husband and I left Zimbabwe many years ago when the country was in economic crisis under the late president Robert Mugabe. Now, we have to go back home and start a new life.”
The departures come as employers, landlords and workers weigh legal concerns and personal safety. For some businesses, the immediate result has been fewer workers, fewer tenants and fewer clients.