Chinese employers were arrested today at the ISithebe Industrial Estate in Mandeni during a joint High Impact Blitz inspection involving the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), the Department of Home Affairs, South African Police Service, and local municipalities. This operation targeted factories suspected of employing undocumented foreign nationals, mainly in the clothing and textile sectors.
During the inspections, authorities arrested two Chinese employers and detained 47 undocumented foreign nationals found working illegally at these factories. The undocumented workers included mostly foreign nationals without proper documentation to work or reside legally in South Africa. Home Affairs also detained several other illegal immigrants in the area as part of the coordinated crackdown.
The Department of Employment and Labour issued several contravention and compliance notices to the factories for breaking labour laws, including failure to provide minimum wages, non-compliance with health and safety standards, and employing undocumented individuals. Two prohibition notices were also issued to factory sections found to be severely non-compliant.
Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Jomo Sibiya, condemned the employers for exploiting vulnerable foreign workers while overlooking South African job seekers. He emphasized that such conduct perpetuates unemployment, poverty, and crime in the country. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Njabulo Nzuza, confirmed that all undocumented workers and factory owners involved will undergo legal processes, including possible deportation for those without valid papers.
This operation highlights the government’s ongoing commitment to enforcing labour and immigration laws, protecting legal employment, and prioritizing job opportunities for South African citizens. The crackdown at ISithebe sends a strong message that illegal employment practices will not be tolerated in the country’s industrial hubs.