JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The recent return of large numbers of foreign nationals from South Africa could put pressure on remittance flows and household incomes in parts of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, a South Africa-based economist has warned.
Tafadzwa Ruzive, a researcher and economist at the University of the Free State, told Xinhua recently that a decline in the number of migrant workers in South Africa could lead to lower remittance flows to neighboring countries.
"There will be a negative shock to remittances going forward," Ruzive said. "There will be a dual negative shock: locally in South Africa, because these individuals will stop buying goods and services here, and back home, where families can no longer buy essentials."
His comments come as South Africa has stepped up immigration enforcement and neighboring countries have facilitated the return of large numbers of their nationals in recent months.
According to South Africa's National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, the government had repatriated 77,184 undocumented foreign nationals to various countries as of Aug. 3. Between April 1 and July 31, 18,816 people were formally deported.
Zimbabwean authorities said more than 155,000 Zimbabweans had been recorded as returning from South Africa through the Beitbridge border post as of Aug. 16, including both government-assisted and self-repatriations.
Zimbabwe also said it had assisted more than 86,000 Malawian nationals to return to their country through its territory.
Remittances remain an important source of income for some SADC economies. World Bank data show that personal remittances received were equivalent to 20.9 percent of Lesotho's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 and 8.4 percent of Zimbabwe's GDP.
Ruzive said lower remittance inflows could have broader economic effects across the region. "The loss in income that comes from abroad affects a lot of functions in the economy," he said. ■