Two Benoni employers were arrested and fined during a joint compliance operation by the EMPD Overloads Unit and the SAPS for allegedly employing undocumented foreign nationals.

The operation formed part of ongoing efforts to ensure businesses comply with South Africa’s employment and immigration laws.

According to the EMPD media liaison Kelebogile Thepa, officers inspected two companies in the Benoni area.

At the first business, a 28-year-old employer was found to have employed one undocumented foreign national who did not possess a valid work permit. The employer was issued with a J534 admission-of-guilt fine of R5 000.

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During an inspection at the second company, officers allegedly found four undocumented foreign nationals employed without the required documentation. The 26-year-old employer was issued four J534 admission-of-guilt fines totalling R20 000.

Both employers paid their admission-of-guilt fines at the Benoni Police Station and were issued with J70 proof-of-payment receipts.

Thepa said all five undocumented foreign nationals were detained at the Benoni Police Station for further processing in terms of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act 13 of 2002).

The employers were arrested for allegedly contravening Section 38(1)(a) and (b) of the Immigration Act, which prohibits employers from knowingly employing foreign nationals who are not authorised to work in South Africa.

The EMPD said compliance operations will continue across the city to ensure businesses adhere to the country’s labour and immigration legislation.

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