JOHANNESBURG – Claims that 15,000 South Africans have secured jobs following recent anti-illegal immigration protests have been disputed by experts and fact-checkers.
The claim was made by anti-migrant activist Nkosikhona “Phakel’umthakathi” Ndabandaba, who alleged that thousands of jobs became available after undocumented foreign nationals left some businesses.
Claim Challenged
However, the claim has been challenged due to a lack of verified evidence.
Fact-checkers say there is no proof that 15,000 South Africans have been employed as a direct result of the protests. They argue that no official employment data has been released to support the figure.
SPAR, which was mentioned in the claim, has also denied creating or advertising 15,000 jobs linked to the protests.
Broader Economic Challenges
Economists and labour experts say South Africa’s unemployment crisis cannot be solved simply by removing undocumented foreign nationals from the labour market.
They argue that unemployment is driven by broader economic challenges, including slow economic growth, limited investment and a shortage of job opportunities. They say sustainable employment depends on economic expansion, business growth and skills development.
Debate Continues
The issue continues to divide opinion across the country.
Supporters of the protests argue that South Africans should be prioritised for available jobs and that employers must comply with labour and immigration laws.
Meanwhile, critics say the country needs long-term economic reforms and stronger job creation strategies to address South Africa’s high unemployment rate.
