Trial of seven Chinese nationals charged with human trafficking and child labour drags on as Court grants another postponem

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08 April 2024

The long-standing trial of seven Chinese nationals charged with human trafficking and child labour was today once again postponed due to the expected non-availability of an interpreter, as he is expected to undergo a medical procedure due to a leg fracture.

Today the defence in the matter was expected to start its case. An interpreter who was booked off-sick told the Court that he had a fracture on his knee and was expected to undergo a medical procedure.

Prosecutor in the matter V. Dube said the latest developments were unfortunate and have “thrown a spanner in the works” – in the dragging matter.

Counsel for the accused J. Kruger today told the Johannesburg High Court (South Gauteng High Court) that he also had recently received a call from the Chinese Embassy wanting to know “why there were delays in the matter”.

Kruger told the Court that he was going to set up an urgent meeting with the five accused who are out on bail, so as to expedite the matter.

The accused in the trial are: Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian. They are facing schedule six offences.

Chen Hui (accused number 2) and Zhang Zhilian (accused number 7) are in custody for violating their bail conditions. Chen was arrested at Lebombo border post en route to Mozambique and Zhang Zhilian was arrested at OR Tambo airport trying to flee the country.

The Chinese nationals were arrested on 12 November 2019 in a joint operation carried out at their premises of a company called Beautiful City Pty Ltd located at Village Deep in Johannesburg. The joint inspection blitz was carried out by Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch together with the South African Police Services (SAPS)/ Hawks Unit and Department of Home Affairs.

The joint operation uncovered illegal immigrants some of whom were minors who are alleged to have been around the age of 15 at the time being subjected to horror working conditions and kept in the locked premises. Most of the migrants were alleged to be Malawian and Zimbabwean nationals.

The accused are facing counts of human trafficking, contravention of Immigration Act, kidnapping, pointing a firearm, debt bondage, benefitting from the services of a victim of trafficking, conduct that facilitates trafficking, illegally assisting person(s) to remain in South Africa, and failure to comply with duties of an employer.

This dragging trial started in 2019 in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court during bail hearing and was later transferred to the Johannesburg High Court.

The trial has been remanded to 01 July 2024 for the start of defence case.

For more information, contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694

Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour