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The Department of Employment and Labour working alongside the Department of Home Affairs' Immigration Unit and the South African Police Services (SAPS), conducted a multidisciplinary High-Impact Blitz Inspection operation in Thaba Nchu on Tuesday, 10 June 2026.

Led by Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya, the operation forms part of government's intensified efforts to enforce labour and immigration legislation, combat workplace exploitation, and address criminality in business operations.

The inspection team commenced operations at Lesidi Aluminium CC in the Selosesha Industrial Park, where inspectors uncovered alarming levels of non-compliance with labour and occupational health and safety legislation.

Workers were found operating without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), while several machines and production processes posed serious safety risks to employees.

Among the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) contraventions identified were:

• Absence of emergency exists in designated work areas
• Forklift operators lacking competency certification
• Machinery operating without proper on/off controls and safety guards
• Unguarded moving and rotating machine parts
• Electrical installations not properly labelled or earthed
• Employees working without appropriate PPE
• Poor housekeeping and unsafe working conditions
• Inadequate sanitation facilities
• Lack of designated eating facilities for employees
• Absence of mandatory General Machinery Regulations (GMR) signage
• Use of identified chemicals in production processes.

As a result, prohibition notices were issued to prevent further exposure of workers to dangerous conditions until compliance is achieved.

Deputy Minister Sibiya expressed grave concern over the findings. “What we found was a serious level of non-compliance. Workers did not have the necessary PPE, they were underpaid, and compliance with occupational health and safety standards was nearly non-existent," said Sibiya.

The Deputy Minister further revealed that the company owes 396 workers an amount of R23 443 348,82 in underpayment of wages. Despite previous interventions and a favourable CCMA award in favour of the workers, the employer has failed to honour its obligations. “The Department will proceed with the sheriff to attach to recover the money owed to workers," he said.

In addition, Lesidi Aluminium was found to be non-compliant with Section 56 of the Unemployment Insurance Act. A compliance order will be issued. While the company is registered with the Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) for Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID) purposes and has paid its assessments, inspectors noted that it had not obtained a valid Letter of Good Standing.

The multidisciplinary team subsequently moved to the Thaba Nchu Central Business District (CBD), where inspections were conducted at foreign-owned retail outlets and informal businesses.

Inspectors uncovered numerous violations, including:

• Employment of undocumented foreign nationals
• Failure to register employees for UIF
• Underpayment of workers below the National Minimum Wage (NMW)
• Failure to register with the Compensation Fund
• Failure to comply with the basic employment standards

Deputy Minister Sibiya lamented the exploitation of workers where one employer was reported to have been paying workers approximately R400 per week, which amounts to about R1 600 per month. “This is far below the National Minimum Wage and is unacceptable. There is a high level of non-compliance with labour laws in Thaba Nchu, and government will continue to act decisively against those who exploit vulnerable workers," he added.

At Shop New Generation on Govan Mbeki Street, inspectors found continued non-compliance despite previous enforcement action. The business had failed to comply with earlier compliance order relating to UIF contributions and COID registration and was also found to have underpaid an employee by R16 200 between February and June 2026.

Additional inspections were conducted at Alarm Supermarket, Take Aways Halaal Meats Tirys, Robot Furniture (Pty) Ltd, After 8 Salon, and Thaba Nchu Moon. Across these businesses, inspectors identified violations including:

• Failure to register for UIF
• Failure to contribute to the UIF
• Failure to register with the Compensation Fund
• Absence of employment contracts and payslips
• Non-compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation

Compliance orders will be issued against the affected employers.

The operation resulted in nine (9) arrests. Following verification of documentation, six (6) individuals were subsequently cleared.

The remaining arrests involved two undocumented foreign national and one individual found in possession of drugs.

Deputy Minister Sibiya reaffirmed government's commitment to sustained enforcement operations across the country.

“We are going to continue these operations. We may be here today and somewhere else tomorrow, but we are at work every day. The President has given us a clear mandate to ensure that the laws of the Republic are enforced. At the same time, we urge communities not to take the law into their own hands. Law enforcement is the responsibility of the state, and we are executing that responsibility every day," he said.

The Department of Employment and Labour will continue conducting follow-up inspections and enforcement actions to ensure compliance, improve working conditions, protect vulnerable workers, and advance social justice throughout South Africa.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za

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Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour​

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