The passing of the 30 June deadline for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa may have marked the end of a highly charged political moment, but for thousands of people affected by anti-migrant mobilisation, the consequences remain painfully real.

South African Research Chair in Mobility and the Politics of Difference at the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) (Wits University), Professor Loren Landau, tells Gugulethu Mashinini of the TimesLIVE that the country must now shift its focus towards humanitarian support and a more honest conversation about migration, inequality and governance: Migration expert calls for better understanding, humanitarian aid post-June 30 (3 July 2026).

Landau notes that, June 30 has passed, but damage is done: “People are displaced, stuck at borders, stuck in these centres in Durban, people whose property has been looted or destroyed, and they need an immediate humanitarian response.”

The events leading up to 30 June displaced communities, disrupted livelihoods and deepened fear among migrant populations. According to Landau, the public frustration over unemployment, housing shortages and inadequate service delivery has been misdirected.

He argues that migration is not the source of South Africa’s social and economic crises. Instead, the country is grappling with longstanding structural challenges, including poor planning, insufficient investment and a lack of economic opportunities for young people.

As Landau succinctly put it:

“The problem is not the number of people, it’s the lack of planning and investment.”

He further highlighted that migrants make significant contributions to South Africa’s economy and to regional prosperity through trade networks, entrepreneurship and job creation. Evidence consistently shows that migrants are not taking jobs away from South Africans; rather, they are often creating economic opportunities that benefit both local communities and neighbouring countries.

Looking ahead, Landau calls for a broader national conversation—one that moves beyond fear and scapegoating to recognise the historical and ongoing contributions of migration to South Africa’s development and prosperity.

For the full article, visit TimesLIVE: Migration expert calls for better understanding, humanitarian aid post-June 30.

[Featured image caption and credit: The 30 June anti-immigration deadline has passed, but questions over migration, jobs and service delivery remain. Picture: (Fredlin Adriaan).]