South Africa: Fired for Being Foreign—Employers Cave to Xenophobic Threats

The Casual Workers Advice Office (CWAO) has reported a sharp rise in cases of xenophobic labour practices across Gauteng, South Africa’s economic hub. The organisation, which supports vulnerable workers, says employers are increasingly dismissing foreign nationals after receiving threats from groups calling for their removal. According to the CWAO, the pattern is consistent: a mob or organised group arrives at a workplace, demands that foreign employees be fired, and warns of violence if the demand is ignored. In many cases, the employer complies immediately, terminating the worker without notice or severance pay. “We have seen a dramatic spike in these reports over the past few months,” said a CWAO representative. “Employers are choosing the easy path—they give in to the threats and fire the worker, often without any legal process.” The office notes that most affected workers are from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Malawi, many of whom hold valid work permits or asylum seeker documents. Despite their legal status, they are being dismissed solely because of their nationality. South African labour law is clear: dismissal based on nationality or ethnicity is unfair and illegal. The CWAO is urging affected workers to come forward and file complaints with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). The organisation is also calling on employers to resist intimidation. “If you fire a worker because of a threat, you are breaking the law. You are also feeding a cycle of violence and discrimination that harms everyone,” the representative added. The CWAO has begun documenting each case and plans to take legal action against companies that have unlawfully dismissed foreign staff. It warns that the trend, if left unchecked, could undermine the rule of law and destabilise labour relations in Gauteng’s industrial and retail sectors.