The seven Chinese nationals busted for allegedly operating a factory where illegal immigrants, including children, were subjected to forced labour are expected to continue with their bail application at the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The seven accused; Kevin Tsao, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Zhang Zhilian, Ma Biao, and Dai Junying were arrested on November 12 for forcing 91 Malawian nationals to work in their factory against their own will.
The four males and three females were arrested in a joint operation between several law enforcement agencies including the Department of Employment and Labour's Inspection and Enforcement Services, the South African Police Services, Home Affairs and the Hawks following a followed a tip-off.
All the accused were arrested at the premises of a company called Beautiful City Pty Ltd located at Village Deep in Johannesburg.
It emerged in court on Wednesday that of the 91 Malawian nationals employed in the factory, 37 of them were children which were transported into South Africa through containers.
In an affidavit submitted by the Hawks/SAPS, it emerged that;
1. All foreigners found at the premises had no documentation to be in South Africa.
Workers were threatened with firearms and kept on the premises against their will.
2. Workers were kept behind high walls.
3. They were earning R6,50 per hour, which is below the National Minimum Wage.
4. They also were not contributing to the Unemployment Insurance Fund and Compensation for Occupational Injuries, the Diseases fund, and the premises were not complying with Occupational Health and Safety.
5. Workers subjected to beatings and had no access to ablution facilities.
Accused number one, Kevin Tsao who is a naturalized South African has also been accused of lying under oath in his affidavit for claiming that he owned no pistol. It has since emerged that he applied for a legal firearm that was issued in 2018.
The defence in the matter have argued among other reasons that the accused are not flight risks, will abide with bail conditions, were subjected to an unusual diet, and appalling prison conditions.
The seven are facing charges of human trafficking, debt bondage, kidnapping and pointing of a firearm.
