Watch as South Africans react to economic impact of migrant exodus

Some South Africans have voiced concern over the economic impact of the widespread closure of businesses owned by foreign nationals during anti-immigrant protests held across parts of the country on June 30, 2026.

Residents say the absence of foreign-owned businesses has already begun affecting daily commercial activities, warning that it could have consequences for the country's economy if not properly managed.

In a video shared on X on June 30, 2026, commuters, taxi operators and local residents shared their thoughts on the development.

"Today is a very bad day economically. We are not going to make anything whatsoever. We just came and see how these guys are going to march," one taxi operator said.

He explained that taxi drivers who would normally load passengers within minutes were now waiting up to 45 minutes to fully load their vehicles.

"We used to take five to ten minutes to load a taxi. Now we take 45 minutes. There is nothing. The business is down," he said.

While supporting the enforcement of immigration laws, several residents argued that the situation should have been handled through diplomatic engagements rather than actions that have disrupted businesses.

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"Laws are laws and we need to adhere to the rules and regulations of the country. But I think it was not supposed to be handled this way. There should have been government to government engagements to solved this problem," another resident said.

Many noted that the closure of foreign-owned shops had left commercial areas deserted, with little economic activities taking place.

"All the shops around here are closed. Today is very quiet. There is no business at all. The shops are closed and there is nobody walking around," a resident observed.

Others acknowledged the significant role migrant entrepreneurs play in South Africa's economy, stressing that their departure would affect investment, employment and local businesses.

"The foreigners, we must live with them. If we want our economy to go up, we must live with the foreigners. If they go back to their countries, there are going to be no businesses, and no investment," one person said.

At the same time, residents maintained that foreign nationals should comply with South Africa's immigration laws by obtaining proper documentation.

"They are contributing a lot to the economy, but people must be here in a proper way. People must be identified because of crime. Someone who doesn't have documents is a threat to us," another resident said.

Watch the video below

Some South Africans have expressed concern over the widespread closure of shops and businesses owned by foreign nationals during anti-immigrant protests on Tuesday, June 30.

Residents warn that if the situation persists, it could have serious economic consequences, as many… pic.twitter.com/FOKWaBdQ4O

— ChannelOne TV (@Channel1TVGHA) June 30, 2026