Over 42,000 foreign nationals seek business permits as SA migration tensions rise

KwaZulu-Natal has emerged as the province with the highest number of business registration applications and approvals from foreign nationals, as government data shows more than 42,000 applications were submitted by June 24.

Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers

More than 42,000 foreign nationals have applied to register businesses in South Africa, according to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, as the government moves to tighten the regulation of informal traders ahead of planned protests.

Chairperson Mmamoloko Kubay said the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has launched a programme to accelerate small business registration to ensure all traders operate legally and have the necessary permits.

“The cumulative permitting and licensing data as at 24 June 2026 show 100,733 applications received nationally, of which 42,151 relate to applications where the owner is a foreign national.

“Of the total applications, 26,367 were approved, including 6,749 approvals where the owner is a foreign national,” she said.

Kubayi said KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of applications and approvals, while Gauteng recorded a high number of applications but comparatively fewer approvals.

She made the remarks as the IMC briefed the media on Friday on the government's comprehensive approach to migration management ahead of nationwide protests planned for Tuesday.

The protests come amid growing concerns over the safety and wellbeing of foreign nationals as tensions linked to anti-illegal immigration demonstrations continue to escalate.

Many migrants travelled to South Africa in search of better opportunities. 

Instead, some say they are living in fear amid rising hostility.

Protests targeting undocumented migrants have intensified across the country, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Protesters claim undocumented migrants are taking jobs intended for South Africans, placing pressure on healthcare services and schools, and failing to contribute to the economy through taxes.

Despite repeated calls for calm by the government, demonstrations have continued to escalate.

Anti-migrant organisations March and March, together with other civil society organisations, have called on undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa by June 30.

At a media briefing in Midrand on Wednesday, more than 20 anti-migrant organisations and civil society groups pledged that the demonstrations would remain peaceful and would not result in violence, looting or loss of life.

The groups are calling for stricter visa regulations, a review of asylum policies, action against businesses employing undocumented migrants, accountability for corrupt police officers and restrictions on public services for undocumented migrants.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration says 100,733 business registration applications had been received nationwide by June 24, including 42,151 from foreign nationals, with KwaZulu-Natal leading in both applications and approvals.

Meanwhile, Kubayi, who is the minister of Justice and Constitutional Development said the DSBD, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) had finalised a joint action plan for the registration of informal businesses.

She said a joint interdepartmental nerve centre involving the DSBD, CoGTA and SALGA would be established at both technical and political levels to accelerate the registration process.

“To add to this effort, CoGTA in collaboration with traditional leaders will support municipalities to embark on business licensing activities and strengthen bylaw enforcement in rural areas.”

Kubayi said four Spaza Shop Support Fund awareness campaigns were conducted in June 2026 in Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

“With regards to the implementation of Spaza Shop Support Fund, a total of four (4) Spaza Shop Awareness Campaigns were conducted during June 2026 in Mpumalanga and Gauteng.”

According to Kubayi, the campaigns reached 131 spaza shop owners and participants, while 22 applications were completed for support.

She said South Africa remained constitutionally and legally obliged to provide social services, including healthcare and education, to all children within the country.

“With regards to the delivery of social services such as health, education and other services, South Africa is obliged to protect all children within the Republic consistent with its constitutional, and statutory as well as international and regional commitments.

“South African courts have consistently confirmed that these constitutional rights apply to all children in South Africa.”

“While we are mindful of the concerns raised by various communities with regards to the provision of social services to migrants, we believe that the work that we are doing to manage migration will ensure the provision of such services to migrants is controlled, orderly and manageable and does not disadvantage South African citizens,” she said.

Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia previously announced that R600 million, ordinarily allocated to police stations and community policing, would be redirected to security operations ahead of the planned protests.

Police have since increased security measures across the country to maintain law and order during the demonstrations.