Xenophobic unrest in South Africa has led to significant losses for small businesses, with significant foreign customers and workers fleeing, highlighting the positive economic contribution of migrants.
A business owner from Rosetonville, Johannesburg, who spoke to Daily Maverick on condition of anonymity, said his business turnover had dropped by 30% in June as a result of the xenophobic unrest.
“The first reason is that our clients have moved away, so there are not as many people in the area, because a lot of our clients are foreign nationals… not only illegal people, but also affluent legal people who are from other countries,” he said.
He said that he had lost two of his “best staff members”, who were forced to return to their countries.
He told Daily Maverick, “When I bought the store about five years ago, they were already staffed. Although one employee had come to the country legally, his papers had expired, and when we tried to renew them, we were asked to pay a huge bribe.”
“I don't know what the future holds. I've lost my two best employees, so there's a good chance I'll close the shop. I was trying to recover after Covid and started at ground zero, trying to make the shop profitable, but I guess that's it,” he said sadly.
While there is no formal estimate…