ALBERTON, East Rand — A major labour and immigration raid in Alberton has uncovered significant compliance violations at a local steel manufacturing plant, with officials revealing that over 100 illegal foreign workers were allegedly employed at the facility. The multi-agency enforcement operation was led by Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza, Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya, and Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, who emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to labour exploitation and illegal immigration in the region.
During the operation at the Chinese-owned steel manufacturing facility, authorities discovered the site was operating with a suspiciously small workforce. Deputy Minister Sibiya confirmed that more than 100 illegal immigrants, who had been present the previous day, were tipped off and instructed not to report for work on the day of the inspection. Despite the leak, officials intercepted individuals attempting to work on visitor’s visas. Sibiya condemned the deliberate evasion as “defeating the ends of justice” and vowed to return for unannounced night-shift inspections to hold the employer accountable.
The labour inspection revealed severe worker exploitation at the steel plant. Employees were reportedly paid in cash for Saturday and Sunday shifts to circumvent official records, receiving compensation below the legal minimum wage. Additionally, inspectors immediately halted the use of a damaged crane and unlicensed forklifts due to untrained, uncredentialed operators. The facility also lacked a mandatory Certificate of Compliance (CC) for its electrical installations, raising critical occupational health and safety concerns.
Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza highlighted concurrent municipal bylaw violations, noting that the company owes approximately R3 million in service payments, though a debt recovery arrangement is currently in place. Authorities also flagged an unauthorized residential structure erected within the demarcated industrial zone, which the company claimed was used to house skilled Chinese workers for training purposes. Mayor Xhakaza stressed that while foreign investment is welcome, it must strictly adhere to South African laws, pay for municipal services, and avoid exploiting local communities.
In stark contrast, the enforcement team visited a second establishment in the area, Twin Saver, a South African-owned toilet paper manufacturing company. Deputy Minister Nzuza praised the facility as a “good story” and a model of corporate compliance. The company pays minimum wage, provides formal contracts, paid leave, and personal protective equipment (PPE), and maintains an up-to-date municipal account of roughly R850,000, actively supporting local service delivery.
However, the raid at the compliant facility was not entirely without incident. Authorities arrested one illegal foreign immigrant employed by a subcontractor operating on the premises. The primary company assured officials that they would take strict measures to vet all subcontractors and ensure full adherence to immigration and labour laws moving forward.
Concluding the operation, Deputy Minister Nzuza reiterated that the core objective of the labour and immigration raid in Alberton is to systematically cut the demand for illegal foreign labour. “We are making sure that no other person leaves their country to come and enter here illegally because they are guaranteed a job,” Nzuza stated. He affirmed that South Africa is “not a banana republic,” warning that all employers will face severe consequences, including arrests and facility shutdowns, for aiding and abetting illegal immigration and labour violations.
