Sixty-four undocumented workers were arrested during a blitz in Isithebe, as deputy labour minister Jomo Sibiya cracked down on illegal employment practices.

The operation, carried out last Thursday in the Mandeni-based industrial hub, targeted clothing and textile factories employing illegal foreign nationals. Sibiya condemned businesses that exploit undocumented immigrants by paying them below minimum wage and replacing South African workers.

“These companies train illegal immigrants through locals, then discard the very people who helped them learn,” said Sibiya.

“Jobs should be prioritised for South Africans and those with valid documentation.”

The joint inspection was conducted in partnership with deputy home affairs minister Njabulo Nzuza. Nine companies were inspected, and all were found to be in violation of labour regulations.

Three factory sections were shut down due to serious non-compliance with health and safety standards.

Provincial chief inspector for KwaZulu-Natal, Mlungisi Zondi, confirmed that 36 compliance notices and three prohibition notices were issued under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Employers have 14 days to resolve the labour violations and up to 60 days for safety-related issues or face legal action.

Among the infractions discovered were the absence of payslips, poor working conditions and failure to comply with statutory safety protocols.

Sibiya said the goal was not just to arrest individuals, but to restore order and ensure compliance across the industry.

“Whether you are South African or not, compliance is the order of the day,” he said.

The Isithebe industrial area has long drawn criticism from residents for employing undocumented foreign nationals. In a similar operation last September, two illegal workers and a factory owner were arrested, while “sweatshop conditions” were discovered in a December 2023 raid. In 2016, the same issue was one of the major causes of violent protests, where several factories were damaged or destroyed.

The ministers urged factory owners to correct their practices or face prosecution.

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