In South Africa, seven Chinese citizens were convicted of human trafficking and violating labor laws.

 

Seven Chinese nationals and their company, Beautiful City (Pty) Ltd, were convicted by the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday, February 25, for a series of crimes, including human trafficking, following a raid on their factory in the Village Deep area of Johannesburg several years ago.

 

Phindi Mjonondwane, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said that the accused was charged with 158 charges, which included violations of labour laws, occupational health and safety regulations, and human trafficking offenses.

 

The convicted individuals, identified as Shu-Uei Tsao, 42, Biao Ma, Hui Chen, 50, Quin Li, 56, Zhou Jiaquing, 46, Junying Dai, 58, and Zhilian Zhang, 51, were found responsible for running an illegal factory that produced cotton-fiber sheets. Following a police tip-off, the operation was discovered and a raid was conducted on the premises.

 

According to the investigation, the accused employed 91 undocumented Malawian workers, 16 of whom were minors aged 14 to 16. The workers arrived at the factory and were subjected to inhumane conditions, such as being confined to the premises and being supervised by armed guards. They were compelled to work 11-hour shifts, seven days a week, with no proper training or safety equipment.

 

Valencia Dube, the state advocate, presented evidence at the trial, which included testimony from former employees who had been hired under false pretenses. The workers, consisting mostly of Malawian nationals and one South African truck driver, recounted receiving promises of a better life but instead faced brutal working conditions.

 

They were transported to the factory in windowless trucks and were not permitted to leave. Workers were prohibited from bringing food, communication was banned, and they were forced to operate faulty machinery without protective gear, resulting in accidents. One worker was denied medical care after losing their finger. A high wall, razor fence, and armed security were used to create an atmosphere of extreme control and exploitation in the factory.

 

The NPA expressed satisfaction with Judge David Mhango's ruling that the accused were responsible for the offences, and praised the law enforcement's efforts in tackling organized crime and human trafficking cases.