The Department of Employment and Labour blitz inspections resulted in the arrest of at least 25 undocumented foreign nationals and two employers in the KwaZulu-Natal Province yesterday (14 October 2025).

The multi-departmental inspections, spearheaded by the Employment and Labour Deputy Minister, Jomo Sibiya, were done in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Njabulo Nzuza; Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister, Sihle Zikalal; the South African Police Service, the Ilembe District Municipality, and the Indwedwe Local Municipality, led by Mayor Mfeka.

The blitz inspections focused on agriculture as well as the Wholesale and Retail Sectors in Indwedwe Local Municipality, under the Ilembe District Municipality.

The 25 people arrested for illegally working in South Africa were employed in two of the farms that were raided by inspectors from the department, as well as officials from Home Affairs and the South African Police Service. The two farm employers were arrested for employing the 25 illegal immigrants in South Africa.

A number of those employees arrested are Malawians and Mozambicans, and they were subsequently taken in at the local police station for processing and possible deportation back to their respective countries. 

The blitz inspections were meant to check the level of compliance with labour legislation such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the National Minimum Wage (NMW) Act, Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.

Deputy Minister Sibiya said, “When we arrived at the first farm, you could see that there were hundreds of foreign immigrants who had to run away from us. Due to the vast farming space, we couldn't contain them. This leaves a lot to be desired with the employers, and we had to go back to their offices and check their levels of compliance with other legislation.

“We found that some of the employees were not registered with the UIF and the Compensation Fund, and the employer was not compliant with the National Minimum Wage".

According to Deputy Minister Sibiya, some of the wholesale and retail establishments were selling food items that had expired, some not labelled, and others were unauthorised. “Some food products being sold here are not labelled, some have expired, or are unauthorised, and for public safety reasons, have to be confiscated by the municipal officials.

The structural conditions of their buildings also pose safety risks. Some did not have proper electrical installations, which pose fire risks. “We are going to close some of these shops because they don't meet the legal standards of the Occupational Health and Safety that we have put in place as a country". 

As a result of noncompliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations, two shops were closed down and several prohibition notices were served to all the inspected wholesalers and shops in the Bhamshela area for failure to comply with labour laws such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the National Minimum Wage (NMW) Act, Unemployment Insurance Contribution Act, and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

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

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

​ 

​​