Political and public leadership is calling for urgent government intervention to address growing concerns over alleged labor law violations and controversial actions by Labour Organizations and Communities (LACO). Proponents emphasize the need for legal engagement and the protection of workers' rights.
Shamin Thakur-Rajbanshi, leader of the Minority Front, stated that the sudden targeting of businesses owned by Indians appears politically motivated, especially with local elections approaching. She noted that LACO primarily represented Black African workers and dealt with undocumented foreigners, who, in her view, fall under the jurisdiction of the Departments of Labour and Home Affairs.
Thakur-Rajbanshi stressed that while accusations must be taken seriously, any action must remain legal and balanced. She warned that businesses are vital economic drivers, so the approach should focus on finding solutions rather than creating a political sensation.
The leader of the Minority Front demanded immediate government intervention and independent investigations into these allegations. She appealed to the Department of Labour, SAPS, and local municipal authorities to conduct an independent review to restore trust among workers, businesses, and the public.
Thakur-Rajbanshi insisted that companies found guilty of labor abuses should face severe consequences, including fines, compliance orders, potential license suspension, and prosecution if criminal behavior is proven.
She also pointed out deficiencies in labor oversight, noting that while South Africa's laws are progressive on paper, their enforcement is inconsistent. A need was highlighted for strengthening inspections, expediting dispute resolution, and protecting whistleblowers.
Dr. Jonathan Annipen, an advisor to IFP, stated that all allegations must be considered within the framework of the law, emphasizing that they remain mere assertions until properly reviewed by the relevant legal bodies. He reminded that South Africa is a constitutional democracy based on the rule of law.
Annipen added that the government is obligated to protect vulnerable workers, and serious public accusations cannot be ignored. He proposed stricter sanctions for companies violating labor laws, including financial penalties, criminal prosecution, and exclusion from public procurement.
Doshi Govender of the uMkhonto weSizwe party stated that businesses must comply with labor laws to ensure industrial peace. He strongly condemned the alleged exploitation of staff, stressing that workers have the right to compensation in case of workplace injuries. Govender also criticized the weak enforcement of labor laws in the country.
The controversial Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, unofficially dubbed the 'Gunda Act,' came into force in Bengal after midnight on Monday.
This act grants the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government extensive powers, including the ability to conduct preventive detention, confiscate property, and remove suspected offenders from certain areas. The government claims the law aims to combat organized crime and anti-social activities, while the opposition criticizes it as overly harsh and prone to abuse.
The bill was passed by the West Bengal Assembly on June 29 and soon received gubernatorial approval. Now that the law's notification has come into effect, authorities can begin applying its provisions across the state.
According to the government statement, this legislation is intended to strengthen public safety, improve law and order, and curb the activities of organized criminal networks, illegal mining, unauthorized sand extraction, wildlife offenses, and other acts that cause fear or disrupt normal life.
One of the most debated provisions of the law is the authorization for the government to issue preventive detention orders for up to one year if it deems an individual's actions threaten public safety. This provision has drawn criticism from opposition parties and parts of civil society, who fear it could be used to detain political opponents or critics without a trial. However, the BJP rejects these fears, insisting that the law contains safeguards against arbitrary action.
Under the Act, any order for preventive detention must be reviewed by a consultative committee headed by a sitting or former Calcutta High Court judge, along with two members qualified to be a High Court judge. The detained person also has the right to present their defense before this committee.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari previously defended this provision, stating that it is designed to curb the actions of habitual offenders, not ordinary citizens. Furthermore, the legislation allows the state to confiscate the property of individuals charged under this law by referencing relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Another key feature is the power to issue eviction orders. District Magistrates, Police Commissioners, and senior police officials can require a person to leave a specific area or even the entire district for up to a year if they believe the person may disturb public order. The law also permits the police to ban certain individuals from entering specific areas and provides legal protection to government officials involved in implementing its provisions.
Commenting on the law's enactment, West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh stated that the government introduced the law to fight politically backed criminal elements that, in his view, have been operating in the state for years. He noted: 'The people of West Bengal are agitated and tired of the hooliganism they have had to witness for so many years, especially considering that most of these gangsters had political connections. To curb this threat, we had to pass a new law, and it will be strictly enforced... Ordinary people who are still afraid to speak out should come forward and file complaints with the police. The law will proceed as usual,' he told the news agency ANI.
When presenting the bill in the assembly last month, Adhikari argued that similar laws already exist in several states and accused previous governments of being unable to effectively combat political violence. He added: 'Before this is implemented, let me note that the previous government took no action. The people of Bengal rejected you through EVMs. You managed to form the opposition, but it is not strong. This bill has already been presented in several states under different names; Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand have already implemented it.'
The government insists that the law is aimed solely at protecting public safety, maintaining law and order, and preventing organized crime, while opposition parties continue to argue that its broad powers require close scrutiny to prevent potential misuse.
Protests against migrants are occurring in South Africa, fueled by dissatisfaction with unemployment rates, crime, and a prolonged period of weak economic growth. However, economists warn that the departure of thousands of foreign workers could harm the very businesses and labor markets defended by anti-migrant sentiment.
Anti-migrant sentiments have intensified in recent months, culminating in a nationwide march on June 30th. Although the protests were largely peaceful, fears of violence prompted thousands of African migrants to leave South Africa. Their departure could lead to labor shortages in sectors long dependent on foreign workers, including farming, construction, delivery services, and small shops, and undermine the country's extensive informal economy.
Mpho Lenoke, a lecturer at the University of the Western Cape, noted that migrants typically find work in hard-to-fill roles such as retail, hospitality, transport, construction, and agriculture. According to UN data, around 2.6 million migrants called South Africa home in 2024, representing approximately 5% of the population. While recent data on their economic contribution is limited, OECD-ILO estimates from 2018, based on 2010 modeling, indicated that migrants contributed 9% to GDP.
Lenoke also emphasized that many foreign nationals start businesses that hire South African citizens and create competition, which benefits consumers. He added that international experience shows that restrictions on migrant labor often have unintended economic consequences.
The protests have already caused disruptions in parts of the retail sector. Informal spaza shops, which operate from temporary stalls, garages, or containers, are a vital part of South Africa's informal economy, supporting wholesalers, landlords, and local employees. For instance, the food delivery platform Sixty60, owned by Africa's largest retailer Shoprite Group, experienced interruptions during the recent protests, with company data showing that less than a quarter of its drivers were South African citizens.
The situation is exacerbated by weak growth. The World Bank lowered its forecast for South Africa's growth in 2026 from 1.4% to 1.0% in June, and Statistics South Africa reported that the unemployment rate reached nearly one-third in the first quarter, leaving 8.1 million people jobless. These conditions have fueled discontent regarding migrants.
However, a study by the International Labour Organization (ILO) based on labour force survey data showed that as immigrant participation in the workforce increases, employment opportunities for South African citizens also rise. Susanna Dittlefsen from ACLED noted that protests can disrupt economic activity through looting and business closures, as escalating tensions lead to supply chain disruptions, job losses, and restricted access to goods and services.
Investors have so far reacted calmly but view the protests as adding a new risk factor. Kaan Nazli, a manager of emerging market debt portfolios at Neuberger Berman, stated that while this is a significant social issue in South Africa, investors have not yet seen a tangible impact from this phenomenon. Now, with these protests, it is becoming a risk.
The significance of the issue extends beyond South Africa, as the country is a major source of remittances in the region and the largest recipient center for working-age populations, according to ILO data. A joint report by FinMark Trust and the South African Reserve Bank showed that the outflow of remittances more than tripled between 2016 and 2024, reaching over 19 billion Rand in 2024. Nearly 90% of remittances to South Africa were directed to Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, with Zimbabwe receiving over 60% of the total amount.
Recent demonstrations in South Africa reflect deep public dissatisfaction related to unemployment and the quality of public services, contradicting the notion of the country being violent. The article analyzes the underlying economic difficulties and emphasizes the urgent need for action.
Over the past week, South Africa has drawn the attention of the global and local community due to marches held on Tuesday. While some portray the country as aggressive towards foreigners, this is not accurate. It is crucial to consider the deep frustrations and anger of the population. Society is exhausted by an economy that grows barely fast enough to keep pace with population growth, let alone absorb hundreds of thousands of young people entering the labor market annually. The country faces one of the highest unemployment rates in the world—43.7%, leading to entrenched poverty and inequality.
Despite numerous challenges, South Africa remains an economic hub for the Southern African region and a significant part of the continent. It cannot remain a relatively isolated oasis of prosperity amidst an ocean of poverty. The marches took place, and were mostly peaceful, for which credit should be given to the police officers. However, the sincere demands of the demonstrators and society, especially the working class, cannot be ignored; these issues require urgent resolution.
The first problem is the unemployment crisis. No society can be proud or feel secure if four out of ten citizens cannot find work, especially decent and permanent employment. Over 62% of youth are at risk of unemployment. Solving the unemployment problem must become a top priority for the government, businesses, trade unions, and society as a whole. Once people get jobs, many acute socio-economic crises will begin to subside.
To create jobs, the economy needs to be pulled out of its sluggish state, which has lasted over ten years, and raised to the required 3% growth. This implies assisting Eskom and municipalities in ensuring electricity accessibility for working-class families, businesses, and industry. Accelerating investment in rail transport, ports, roads, water supply, airports, and other vital economic infrastructure is also necessary.
Furthermore, the process of starting a business must be simplified, and financing must be accessible and acceptable for SMEs, especially in rural areas and settlements. The private sector must actively participate in job creation, including discussing alternatives to staff reductions with workers and unions. Employers are obliged to pay workers a living wage. This is critical for ensuring worker health and productivity, as well as their sense of value and motivation. For economic growth, it is also vital that workers receive a decent salary and become shareholders, allowing them to purchase goods needed by businesses.
Employers should prioritize hiring young South Africans. It has often been observed that employers exploit the desperation of undocumented labor, violating their labor rights and immigration laws. If this is not addressed, it will become a trigger for future conflicts. Part of the demonstrators' anger is linked to the state of public and municipal services. When communities face deteriorating water supply and sanitation infrastructure, such as sewage leaks on roads in settlements, why should they be surprised by protests? When workers spend days queuing at the Department of Interior or hospitals for the most basic services, why should they be suppressed?
While acknowledging everything that causes anger, it is also necessary to note the progress made by society since 1994 under successive African National Congress administrations. These administrations implemented public services for the working class to reduce poverty and inequality, and in recent years, they have managed to overcome power outages that damaged the economy, restore other state-owned enterprises, and begin dismantling networks of state resource theft. It is necessary to honestly acknowledge the unacceptable level of crime and define steps to eliminate it.
As with other aspects of the state, competent leadership of law enforcement agencies must be ensured, vacancies on the front lines must be filled, critical skills must be attracted, and personnel and institutions must be provided with the necessary resources to win this fight. Protests occurred because society is losing faith in the state's ability to ensure the rule of law, which is an extremely dangerous situation for any society.
Any form of xenophobia, racism, or discrimination must be categorically rejected, as the country knows the meaning of these phenomena after experiencing apartheid. We are not like that, and we should never be. At the same time, it must be demanded that every resident of South Africa, citizen or not, complies with all laws. Migration must be managed, not a chaotic process. South Africa cannot bear the burden of providing employment for an entire region or continent; primarily, we owe our loyalty to South African citizens.
Migration is part of history, including the country's history, as the mining industry was built by generations of workers from Cofimvaba to Cabo Delgado. There is a historical obligation to help develop the region that the country owes so much to. The region and the continent must prosper. This requires other African governments to take responsibility to their citizens by addressing the reasons why they are forced to leave their homes due to mass human rights violations, climate change, or a complete lack of jobs and economic opportunities.
The government must strengthen border security and provide the Department of Interior, Border Control Agency, as well as SAPS and SANDF with the necessary resources to constantly ensure the rule of law. Despite numerous problems, they must be solved. Migration is an integral part of human nature and must be managed in a humane and sustainable way. These marches have been an alarming signal that cannot be ignored.
