Bernadette Wicks According to the indictment, the Chinese nationals had a total of 91 undocumented Malawian foreign nationals – among them children – working in the factory in Johannesburg. Picture: iStock In 2018, Maxwell Kamanga left his home town of Dedza, in rural Malawi, and boarded a bus bound for Johannesburg. For the ambitious 24 year old, the lure of a better life was too enticing to resist. But his dreams soon turned to dread when he was recruited into what is now believed to have been an illegal sweatshop and became a pawn in an alleged human trafficking ring. This was Kamanga’s evidence on the stand of the High Court in Johannesburg this week when the trial of the seven Chinese nationals accused of running the operation got underway. ALSO.
Chinese nationals back in court over human trafficking charges
Seven Chinese nationals face 160 counts, many of them relating to the violation of labour laws in South Africa
The matter continued the previous week, but had to be adjourned because Chichewe and Mandarin interpreters were not available at the time.
The accused – Kevin Tsao, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying and Zhang Zhilian – have already been indicted on charges of human trafficking, debt bondage, kidnapping and pointing of a firearm.
The four men and three women were nabbed in November 2019 as part of a sting operation conducted by the department’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch in Gauteng, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Home Affairs and the Hawks.
Seven Chinese nationals, who were arrested for human trafficking, have pleaded not guilty.
The accused appeared in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.
They face 160 charges, including human trafficking, kidnapping and the violation of labour laws.
Seven Chinese nationals, who were arrested for human trafficking, have pleaded not guilty.
Kevin Tsao, Dai Junying, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao and Zhang Zhilian appeared in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Monday for their trial.
They face 160 charges, including counts of human trafficking, kidnapping and the violation of labour laws.
They were arrested on 12 November 2019, following an operation between the Department of Employment and Labour s inspection and enforcement services branch in Gauteng, the police, the Department of Home Affairs and the Hawks, News24 previously reported.
Chinese nationals, nabbed on human trafficking charges, due back in court iol.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from iol.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Human trafficking trial set to begin
By Anelisa Kubheka
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DURBAN - The formal trial against seven Chinese nationals charged with human trafficking and violating South African labour laws is expected to begin on Wednesday in the South Gauteng High Court.
This was after the matter was postponed on Monday due to the non-availability of Chichewe and Mandarin interpreters.
The seven were arrested for allegedly running an illegal enterprise called Beautiful City Pty Ltd located at Village Deep in Johannesburg.
They were arrested in a November 2019 joint operation conducted by the Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) in partnership with the South African Police Services (SAPS), Department of Home Affairs and the police’s Hawks Unit.