In South Africa, a Call for Self-Reflection Amid Tensions Over Zimbabwean Migrants

Tensions surrounding Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa cannot be reduced to a single explanation. A personal account, based on a work experience dating back to the early 2000s, invites people to consider another aspect of the debate: individual responsibility, the way income is managed and attitudes towards work.

The account does not deny concerns related to undocumented people or crime. However, it argues for a clear distinction between these issues and the tendency to hold foreigners responsible for difficulties that may also have personal and social causes.

A Work Experience With One Zimbabwean Colleague

The story takes place in a company with around fifteen employees. Fourteen were South African and one was Zimbabwean. The South African employees earned around 450 per week at the time, while the Zimbabwean worker, whose duties included maintenance and cleaning, earned around 250 per week.

On paper, the gap therefore appeared to favour the South African employees. Yet the Zimbabwean colleague gradually managed to have more financial means. He rented a room, regularly sent money to his family and owned possessions that some better-paid colleagues could not afford.

This situation could cause confusion: how could someone earning less appear more financially stable than colleagues receiving a higher salary? The account offers an answer based not on nationality, but on the choices made outside work.

Two Very Different Uses of Money at the Weekend

According to this account, some of the South African workers spent a large part of their wages over the weekend, particularly on alcohol. They gave a contribution to their families, then used the rest for going out from Friday to Sunday. By Monday, several had no money left.

The Zimbabwean colleague followed a different approach. On Saturdays and Sundays, he looked for casual jobs and could complete several in a single day. This additional income then enabled him to lend money to some colleagues at the beginning of the week.

When wages were paid the following Friday, those who had borrowed money had to repay him. As a result, this employee combined his salary, his casual-work income and the repayments he received. His progress did not come from replacing other employees: he was only one Zimbabwean worker among fourteen South Africans. In this specific experience, it came from his weekend work and more limited spending.

Do Not Confuse Someone Else’s Success With Dispossession

The central point is this: seeing a foreigner make progress does not prove that they have taken the place or resources of a South African citizen. In the case described, the employees concerned had jobs. The Zimbabwean colleague did not stop them from working, nor did he decide how they spent their weekends.

The account therefore stresses the risk of turning a personal problem into a collective accusation. If spending habits remain unchanged, removing or excluding a foreign colleague does not automatically solve the financial difficulties of people who continue to live beyond their means.

The author of this account includes himself in this criticism. He acknowledges that he spent his money on alcohol from Friday to Sunday and believes that this behaviour contributed to his own difficulties. In his view, the problem existed before his Zimbabwean colleague arrived and would have continued after any possible departure.

Alcohol and Income Management

This account does not claim to explain, on its own, the economic situation of all South Africans. It describes an individual experience and behaviour observed in a particular workplace. Nevertheless, it raises a broader question: what place do alcohol-related expenses have in household budgets and individual life paths?

The observation is straightforward: when a modest income is largely spent every weekend, it becomes difficult to save, invest in essential needs or deal with unexpected expenses. Conversely, taking on extra work and limiting certain expenses can create some financial room, even with a lower initial income.

The point is not to portray Zimbabweans as inherently harder-working or South Africans as irresponsible. Such a generalisation would be unjustified. Rather, it is to recognise that individual behaviour can have concrete consequences, regardless of the origin or nationality of those concerned.

Distinguishing Regular Immigration, Irregular Status and Crime

The account also calls for migrants not to be treated as a single homogeneous group. It distinguishes documented people who earn a living through their work from those who are in an irregular situation or commit criminal acts.

This distinction is essential in any public debate. Concerns about identity documents, compliance with entry and residence rules, and the fight against crime are specific issues. According to this view, they do not justify automatically considering foreign people who work honestly and have documentation to be responsible for local difficulties.

The argument put forward is that tackling crime and examining administrative situations must coexist with personal self-reflection. The two issues do not replace one another. Asking for clarity about the status of certain migrants does not remove the need to question one’s own money management, attitude to work or priorities.

An Invitation to Collective Self-Reflection

Beyond the case of the Zimbabwean colleague, this reflection asks South African citizens a question: what can be changed in one’s own habits before accusing others of causing every problem? For the author of the account, the answer involves greater responsibility regarding alcohol, working when opportunities exist, and better financial discipline.

This approach does not downplay the economic, social or security difficulties that local populations may face. Rather, it rejects a single explanation that makes foreigners automatically responsible for every individual failure.

From this perspective, a migrant’s success should not first be seen as a provocation or a threat. It can also provide an opportunity to observe working methods, saving habits and organisational practices that may inspire everyone. The idea being put forward is simple: before looking for an external culprit, people must also examine what they can correct within themselves.

FAQ

Does this account claim that migrants cause no problems in South Africa?

No. It acknowledges concerns about undocumented people and crime. Above all, it calls for these issues to be distinguished from the situation of documented migrants who earn an honest living.

Why did the Zimbabwean colleague appear to be doing better despite earning less?

According to the account, he did casual work at weekends, spent less on alcohol and was therefore able to save, lend money and send funds to his family.

What is the main message of this reflection?

The message is that people should not automatically blame their personal difficulties on the presence of foreigners. Income management, consumption habits and a willingness to work more can also play a decisive role.