South Africa is cracking down on undocumented work. Here’s what foreign workers should know

In 2026, South Africa has taken a harder stance against undocumented immigration, stepping up workplace inspections and putting greater pressure on employers who hire foreign nationals without valid work authorisation. 

On May 21, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber told Parliament that 8,180 employers had been charged over the previous five years for employing foreign nationals without…