Just a month after crossing into South Africa, an undocumented Mozambican national has shed light on the harsh realities of life as a migrant farmworker — revealing that he earns just R150 per day for gruelling labour in the fields.
Speaking under condition of anonymity, the young man described long hours, physical exhaustion, and minimal protections — a daily reality for many undocumented workers who take on jobs that are often rejected by locals due to the low pay and lack of rights.
“I came here to support my family back home. It’s not easy, but there is no work where I’m from,” he said.
His story highlights the complex and often controversial role of undocumented migrants in South Africa’s agricultural sector — a dynamic that raises urgent questions about labour rights, border control, and economic desperation across Southern Africa.
While some defend the hiring of foreign workers as essential to the sector’s survival, critics argue it fuels exploitation and undermines local employment.
As national conversations around immigration and employment intensify, stories like his bring a human face to policy debates — reminding us that behind every statistic is a personal struggle for survival.
