South Africa: Fired for Being Foreign - How Employers Gave in to March and March Threats

South African employers are retaliating against immigrant workers after threats from the anti-immigrant group March and March, according to the Casual Workers Advice Office (CWAO). The CWAO, located in Germiston, reported a surge in cases involving fired, suspended, and ostracized immigrant workers in Gauteng. Many of these workers have valid papers, but employers have ignored their legal rights, leading to financial ruin and the inability to leave the country.

Gugu Moyo, an immigrant liaison officer at the CWAO, expressed concern that politicians and anti-immigration activists are exploiting the situation to spread hatred against immigrants. The CWAO has handled over 100 cases since June, but none of the workers it assisted have successfully claimed UIF benefits due to their employers' refusal to cooperate.

Cases include wage theft, unpaid overtime, and unsafe working conditions. Rejoice Moyo, an immigrant worker, recounted her dismissal after March and March stormed her workplace, demanding only South Africans be hired. She and her employer were threatened with eviction if she did not comply. Other immigrant workers, such as Mbombo Nana and Sylvia, were dismissed after their employers faced pressure from March and March supporters.

Both workers have refugee papers, but were not granted any form of compensation or support. Monica Chifamba, a single mother from Zimbabwe, was also dismissed without payment and is now struggling to care for her children. Raphike Bado, a Malawian immigrant, said his employer canceled his shift on June 15, citing the impending March and March deadline.

He was subsequently dismissed without compensation. CWAO's organizer, Andile Nyembezi, emphasized that xenophobic forces are using ethnicity and tribalism to divide communities and hinder economic progress.