U.S. President Donald Trump’s 30% tariffs on South African exports could put as many as 100,000 jobs at risk, South Africa Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago said on Wednesday.
Speaking on Radio 702, Kganyago said agriculture and automotive sectors would be hardest hit when the duties take effect on August 1. “The impact in agriculture could be quite devastating because it employs many low‑skilled workers,” he said, citing citrus fruit, table grapes and wine producers.
Automotive exports have already suffered: South African car shipments to the United States plunged more than 80% after Trump’s April auto import levies, Kganyago noted. “If we do not find alternative measures, the impact on jobs could be around 100,000,” he added.
South Africa’s unemployment rate stood at a record 32.9% in the first quarter, with a broader measure at 43.1%. Farmer groups estimate the citrus sector alone faces 35,000 job losses, threatening towns such as Citrusdal in the Western Cape that rely on U.S. markets.