The Trusted Employer Scheme and South Africa’s Immigration Debate: A Critical Look at March and March Protests
The Trusted Employer Scheme and South Africa’s Immigration Debate
Home Affairs’ Trusted Employer Scheme fast-tracks visas for skilled foreign workers. Explore the debate between economic growth and job protection amid March and March anti-immigration protests.
The Immigration Flashpoint
South Africa is at a crossroads. The Department of Home Affairs has launched Phase II of its Trusted Employer Scheme (TES) to attract foreign investment and critical skills, with visas for approved employers processed in days rather than months. Yet, weekly anti-immigration protests under the banner of March and March demand tighter borders and the deportation of undocumented migrants, arguing foreign workers are taking jobs from South Africans.
This tension isn’t just about policy. It’s about competing visions of South Africa’s future, and who gets to benefit from it.
What Is the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES)?
The Trusted Employer Scheme is a government initiative that pre-vets businesses, allowing them to hire skilled foreign workers through a fast-tracked visa process with reduced documentation requirements.
How it works:
- Approved “trusted employers” can submit bulk visa applications online
- Visas are processed within 3–5 working days
- In some cases, visas have been issued within 24 hours
- The scheme covers Critical Skills, Intra-Company Transfer, and General Work Visa applications
Phase II launched in July 2026 includes:
- Companies involved in strategic infrastructure projects
- Businesses establishing regional/global headquarters in South Africa
- Qualifying financial sector entities
Eligibility requires:
- Minimum score of 80 points on a scorecard
- Meaningful investment in South Africa
- Predominantly South African employees
- Investment in skills development
The Numbers Behind the Debate
The March and March movement’s concerns about immigration must be understood against South Africa’s economic reality:
These statistics fuel the narrative that immigrants—particularly undocumented ones—are competing for scarce jobs and straining public services.
The March and March Movement: Beyond Xenophobia
The March and March movement, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has organized weekly protests in Johannesburg, Soweto, Alexandra, and Durban. “Every Thursday, for the next six months, we are marching until they (illegal immigrants) are gone,” Ngobese-Zuma told supporters.
What Their Critics Say
Mcebisi Jonas, chair of MTN Group, has warned that the protests risk undermining Africa’s economic integration. He argues:
“South Africa’s real problem is not too many migrants but too little growth and too much exclusion. If every foreign national left the country tomorrow, those problems would remain.”
Associate Professor Jo Vearey of Wits University similarly argued the protests are a form of scapegoating: “The narrative that undocumented migrants are to blame for all failures of the state to deliver on what they should be delivering… is scapegoating migrants.”
A Deeper Economic Analysis
Professor Munyaradzi Mukonza of Tshwane University of Technology stated: “Immigrants have become an easy target when people cannot really confront those they elected and entrusted with the responsibility of driving the economy.” He argued the biggest problem is slow economic growth, not immigration.
What the Trusted Employer Scheme Means for the Working Class
The concern raised by the March and March movement is that the TES, while aimed at critical skills, could also:
- Under-cut local wages: Employers could hire skilled foreign workers willing to accept lower pay than South African professionals
- Expand to more job categories: As the scheme grows, could it extend beyond “critical skills” to other fields?
- Accelerate automation: The digital-first approach could reduce jobs for administrative workers
Potential impact: If South African employers can hire skilled workers from elsewhere in Africa at lower wages, there is a risk that local professionals in fields like IT, engineering, and finance could face increased competition.
The Economic Counter-Argument
Home Affairs’ position is that the reforms will create jobs rather than destroy them.
Evidence cited:
- The Trusted Tour Operator Scheme attracted 40,000 tourists and created over 3,000 jobs
- Work visa processing improved dramatically: general work visas from 10% to 98% on-time
- Research suggests 11,000 additional skilled workers annually could add 1.2% to GDP growth
The argument: Attracting skills and investment will expand the economy, creating more jobs for South Africans.
The Real-World Impact of the Protests
Anti-migrant sentiment is having tangible consequences on the economy:
- SweepSouth recorded its highest cancellation rate since the pandemic among domestic workers
- E-hailing drivers: A shortage has pushed up trip prices, with at least half of drivers being migrant workers
- Textile hub: A union estimated 15% of the workforce had fled
- Retail delivery: Migrants account for 70% of Shoprite’s Sixty60 delivery service fleet
- Remittances: R19.4 billion sent home by migrants in 2024—triple the amount from ten years ago
Zimbabwe alone reported almost 100,000 citizens had returned since late May.
The Class Divide: Who Really Benefits?
A central claim in the debate is that the anti-immigration protests primarily affect working-class South Africans, while the middle class remains insulated—until the TES impacts their jobs. This raises uncomfortable questions about solidarity and economic anxiety.
If highly skilled workers from other African nations begin filling South African professional roles for lower wages, the middle class could feel the pressure their working-class peers have faced for years.
Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Trusted Employer Scheme in South Africa?
The TES is a government programme that pre-vets businesses, allowing them to hire skilled foreign workers through a faster visa application process with reduced documentation. Phase II launched in July 2026.
What are the March and March protests about?
The movement organizes weekly demonstrations calling for tighter border controls, faster deportation of undocumented migrants, and tougher penalties for employers hiring people without legal documentation.
What is the difference between legal and undocumented immigration?
Legal immigrants have valid work permits or residence status. March and March’s focus is on undocumented migrants, but the Trusted Employer Scheme facilitates legal immigration of skilled professionals from other countries.
Does the Trusted Employer Scheme take jobs from South Africans?
Home Affairs and economic analysts argue the scheme will create jobs by attracting investment and skills that drive economic growth. Critics fear the scheme could be expanded or used to undercut local wages in skilled professions.
Why are people leaving South Africa?
Thousands of migrants are leaving due to anti-immigrant protests and a government crackdown, with almost 100,000 Zimbabweans returning home since late May.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Immigration policy and protests are evolving situations.
