​​

An undocumented Zimbabwean national was arrested during a multidisciplinary blitz inspection on 15 October 2025.

The Zimbabwean national, who was employed at a restaurant in Clarens, was detained for contravening South Africa's immigration laws after being found without valid documentation to live or work in the country and his employer was also taken in for questioning and possible prosecution for employing an undocumented foreign national.

The inspections, conducted by the Department of Employment and Labour along with sister departments; Home Affairs, South African Police Service as well as organised labour took place in Clarens and Ficksburg in the Free State from 15 to 16 October 2025 focusing on hospitality sector in Clarens and the farming sector in Ficksburg and surrounding areas.

The blitz inspections were part of the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour's oversight visit to the province. The visit to the province was to gauge the level of compliance in the province on labour laws such as the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA), the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), the Unemployment Insurance Contribution Act (UICA), and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act COIDA).

During the inspections, employers in the hospitality sector were found to be noncompliant on UICA as well as COIDA whereas in the Agricultural sector the situation was dire in that employers were not compliant on OHSA regulations. At one establishment inspectors found an uncertified gas installations and there was no essential safety equipment.

This and many other failures prompted inspectors to issue several prohibition notices, contravention notices as well as compliance orders. According to the Provincial Chief Inspector, Manelisi Luxande the inspections will always be order of the day and employers must just comply.

“These blitz inspections reaffirm the department's commitment to making sure that employers comply and workers are protected and their rights observed across the province", Luxande said.

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

​