Seven Chinese nationals and their company Beautiful City (PTY) Ltd were convicted by the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday, February 25, including a series of crimes, including human trafficking, years after their raid at a factory deep in the village of Johannesburg forward.
According to National Procuratorate (NPA) spokesman Phindi Mjonondwane, the defendants face 158 charges, including violations of labor laws, occupational health and safety regulations and trafficking in persons.
The convicted person was identified as Shu-Uei Tsao, 42 years old, biao ma, hui chen, 50 years old, Quin Li, 56, Zhou Jiaquing, 46, Junying Dai, 58, 58 and 51, runs an illegal factory that produces cotton sheets. The operation was exposed after police prompted a raid at the location.
The investigation shows that between 2017 and 2019, the defendants hired 91 undocumented Malawi workers, including 16 minors aged 14 to 16. Upon arrival at the factory, workers suffered inhuman conditions, including confinement of the house, and armed personnel controlled their movements. They were forced to work 11 hours a day, 7 days a week, without sufficient training or safety equipment.
State Representative Valencia Dube provided evidence during the trial, including testimony from former employees recruited under false pretexts. The workers, mainly Malawian nationals and a South African truck driver, described a better life but faced cruel working conditions.
They were transported to windowless trucks to the factory and were not allowed to leave. Workers are forbidden to bring food and communication, and they are forced to operate a faulty machinery without protective equipment, resulting in an accident. A worker lost his finger and was deprived of medical services. The factory is heavily protected, with high walls, razor fences and armed security, creating an atmosphere of extreme control and exploitation.
Judge David Mhango ruled that the defendants were responsible for the crime and the NPA welcomed the conviction, praising law enforcement efforts to resolve cases of organized crime and human trafficking.
