The sentencing proceedings in the trial of seven Chinese nationals found guilty of human trafficking and child labour at the Gauteng South Division Court in Johannesburg that was scheduled for two days (29-30 April 2025) were today postponed to late June.

The defence represented by Counsel J. Kruger told the Court he intends to apply for pre-sentencing reports. Kruger said the defence was not in a position to proceed and requested a postponement, which was granted by the Court. He appealed to the Court that when it imposes sentences it should consider individual circumstances of each accused and not just impose a blanket sentence for all the accused.

The seven Chinese nationals were on 25 February 2025 found guilty on 160 Counts. Those found guilty are Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian. The accused are facing schedule six offences. 

The Chinese were found guilty of not registering with the Compensation Fund and declaring their operations; failure to keep records of their earnings; failure to submit their return on earnings; failure to pay and declare assessments; failure to maintain a safe workplace; failure to report incidents; failure to register and declare with Unemployment Insurance Fund Commissioner; failure to inform the Commissioner on Unemployment Insurance changes; guilty of human trafficking; aiding/facilitating human trafficking; bondage; benefiting from victims of human trafficking; assisting illegals to remain in South Africa.

The seven were arrested on 12 November 2019 in a joint operation carried out at their premises - Beautiful City Pty Ltd based at Village Deep in Johannesburg. The joint inspection blitz was carried out by the Department of Employment and Labour's Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch together with the South African Police Service (SAPS)/ Hawks Unit and the Department of Home Affairs, following a tip-off.

The joint operation uncovered illegal immigrants some of whom were minors working under horror conditions and kept in the locked premises of Beautiful City. The factory produced cotton fibre sheets.

The six accused were remanded in custody, except accused number six (Dai Junying) who is out on medical grounds. The Court will now sit on 26-27 June 2025 to proceed with sentencing.   

For media inquiries, please contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

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

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

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