Sanral: Foreign Nationals Staff Debunked, Less Than 1% of Workforce

• Social media claims that 80% of Sanral's staff are foreign nationals have been debunked.
• Sanral confirmed that out of 784 employees, only seven are foreign nationals, representing less than 1% of its workforce.
• All seven foreign national staff members have over nine years of service with the agency.
• The false claims emerged amid broader anti-migrant sentiment and a scandal involving a Sanral contractor.
• Africa Check verified Sanral's figures, confirming the claims were baseless.

Sanral can confirm that it has a total staff component of 784 members. Of this component, seven are foreign nationals.

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has refuted widespread social media assertions claiming that 80% of its workforce comprises foreign nationals. These allegations, which gained traction through a graphic circulating online in September 2026, have been definitively debunked by the state-owned entity responsible for building and maintaining South Africa's road infrastructure.

According to Sanral's acting CEO, Lehlohonolo Memeza, the agency employs a total of 784 staff members. Of this entire complement, only seven are foreign-born individuals. This figure represents a stark contrast to the 80% alleged in the social media posts, placing the actual proportion of foreign nationals at less than one percent of Sanral's total staff. All seven of these employees have accumulated more than nine years of service with the agency.

These false claims regarding Sanral employment statistics foreign nationals emerged amidst a broader climate of heightened anti-migrant sentiment and demonstrations across parts of South Africa in 2026. Such sentiments have frequently been accompanied by the spread of misinformation, particularly concerning foreign-born individuals, often alleging that they are prioritized for employment or contribute disproportionately to the nation's joblessness crisis.

The specific allegations against Sanral followed a scandal involving one of its contractors, Moriel Infrastructure Group, a Zimbabwean-owned company. News reports on September 21 detailed an incident where Lawrence Mudzinganyama, then director of Moriel, was filmed appearing to threaten women at a Johannesburg restaurant. Following this, Moriel severed ties with Mudzinganyama, and Transport Minister Barbara Creecy instructed Sanral's board to investigate the contractor's adherence to its contractual terms. In the wake of this incident, other nationality-based claims circulated, including assertions that Sanral's chief executive is Nigerian, which the agency also debunked. Additionally, claims suggested that Sanral's Gauteng provincial head, identified by Sanral as a Zimbabwean-born permanent resident in South Africa, was responsible for the appointment of the Moriel group.

Sanral's acting CEO, Lehlohonolo Memeza, directly addressed the circulating post in a statement issued on September 24, labeling the claim as "absurd and completely baseless." While Sanral's annual reporting does not typically provide a breakdown of staff by citizenship, the agency explicitly confirmed its total staff count of 784 members, with only seven being foreign nationals. The statement further noted that all seven foreign staff members have served the agency for over nine years.

It is worth noting a minor inaccuracy in Sanral's initial media statement, which incorrectly calculated the percentage of foreign staff as 0.007% of the total. However, based on the stated figures, the correct proportion is approximately 0.89%. Despite this minor calculation error, the verified percentage remains significantly below one percent, unequivocally debunking the 80% figure propagated on social media. Africa Check, a non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting accuracy in public debate, also verified these Sanral false claims debunked.

The prevalence of such unsubstantiated claims, particularly concerning South African National Roads Agency staff and Sanral employment statistics foreign nationals, underscores the critical importance of accurate information in public discourse. In a socio-political environment marked by anti-migrant sentiment, false narratives can exacerbate tensions and misdirect public concern. The swift and transparent response from Sanral, providing precise figures, serves as a vital counter-measure against the spread of misinformation.

This incident highlights how easily false information can proliferate online, especially when tied to sensitive issues like employment and nationality. For state-owned entities like Sanral, maintaining public trust requires proactive engagement with and correction of such inaccuracies. The clear refutation of the 80% foreign nationals claim by Sanral provides a factual basis for understanding the true composition of its workforce, contributing to a more informed public dialogue.

This article serves as a factual correction regarding employment statistics at a key state-owned entity. While not introducing new legal obligations, it highlights the prevalence of misinformation regarding foreign nationals in employment, which legal and compliance officers should be aware of when advising clients on public statements, social media engagement, or managing reputational risks in a sensitive socio-political climate.

Source: Original reporting via Africa Check