MAHIKENG, North West — The ongoing North West labour blitz has intensified in Mahikeng, where a joint enforcement operation at a major construction site uncovered significant wage violations alongside the employment of undocumented foreign nationals. Spearheaded by the Departments of Labour and Employment and Home Affairs, the national multidisciplinary inspection blitz is actively scrutinizing workplaces across the province to ensure strict adherence to labour and immigration laws.
During the sweeping operation, which evaluated more than 100 employees across various provincial workspaces, the primary focal point was a large-scale construction project situated at the Won Psychiatric Hospital. A spokesperson for the Department of Labour and Employment confirmed that inspectors discovered severe non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act, revealing that several staff members were being underpaid.
Beyond wage discrepancies, the labour department’s team conducted comprehensive audits to verify adherence to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) standards, the Unemployment Insurance Act, and the Compensation for Injuries and Diseases Act. Following interviews with the workforce to verify employer compliance, the department indicated that formal enforcement notices will be issued once their verification process is finalized.
Simultaneously, Home Affairs immigration officers were deployed to the site to validate the legal documentation of every worker present. This rigorous identity check resulted in the discovery of two foreign nationals lacking proper documentation. Consequently, the employer was hit with a R10,000 fine, while the two undocumented individuals were arrested and are currently being processed for deportation.
Despite the regulatory mandate, the on-site identity verification process drew criticism from some of the local workforce. One South African employee voiced frustration over the handling of the checks, explaining that officers merely asked if workers had their ID books. According to the employee, those who forgot their physical IDs were not asked for their ID numbers but were immediately instructed to board a transport van. The worker described the abrupt process as feeling like an arrest, noting it is considered a “bad omen” within their culture, and suggested that authorities could have simply asked individuals to step aside for verification instead.
In contrast to the workers’ frustrations, the main contractor overseeing the Won Psychiatric Hospital project welcomed the joint inspection. Acting as a spokesperson for the site’s management, the contractor stated confidently that the site employs a maximum of 199 individuals, all of whom are verified South Africans according to company records. Emphasizing that the Department of Labour conducts weekly checks at the location and the site has never been shut down, the contractor assured that operations remain fully compliant and “business as usual.”
Compliance was also echoed by a veteran local business owner who has operated in the region for over 20 years. Speaking on the importance of adhering to national regulations, the business owner highlighted their commitment to creating job opportunities for local communities. They confirmed their business maintains full legal compliance, holding a Close Corporation (CK) registration, Sization credentials, and valid local business licenses in accordance with South African law.
Officials from both the Department of Labour and Employment and Home Affairs have confirmed that this multidisciplinary approach is not a one-off event. The departments will continue to assess and enforce compliance across a wide array of workplaces throughout the North West province in the coming weeks.
