In a landmark ruling described as “groundbreaking” by officials, the Johannesburg High Court has sentenced seven Chinese nationals to 20 years imprisonment each for a litany of crimes, including human trafficking, forced labor, and child labor. The group was convicted on a total of 160 charges.
The accused were apprehended in 2019 following a multi-departmental joint raid involving the South African Police Service, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), and officials from the Departments of Labour and Home Affairs. The operation was launched after a tip-off led authorities to a factory where illegal migrants were being subjected to dire working conditions.
Presiding over the case, Acting Judge David Mango acknowledged the severity of the crimes. “On a balance of consideration of the facts and circumstances, I come to the conclusion that the only realistic form of punishment in this instance will be a direct term of imprisonment,” he stated during sentencing. Judge Mango did, however, deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, citing “substantial and compelling circumstances” in the matter.
The sentencing proceedings, which were postponed twice in March and April, concluded with a strong reaction from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). An NPA spokesperson welcomed the sentence but had hoped for a lengthier term. “Indeed, human trafficking has become a scourge in our country,” the spokesperson said. “We have become a destination… because of various reasons including that of our porous borders, our socio-economic factors, and as well as our geographical area. This sentence will go a long way in bolstering our fight against human trafficking.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Labour hailed the judgment as a stern warning to would-be offenders. “This is groundbreaking. We never expected that we’ll go this far,” the spokesperson said. “People are going to know that if you disregard the laws of this republic, you are going straight to jail. It is sending a message to anyone who wants to come to this country from different countries and do as they wish—that era has ended.”
A dramatic moment occurred outside the courtroom when the daughter of one accused, who was pardoned due to medical issues, lashed out at the justice system. She claimed the true owner of the factory had not been apprehended. “They’re all lying… The owner is right here in this country. They still running business here,” she alleged.
In a related outcome, an eighth accused, identified as the owner of the property where the offenses took place, was fined 300,000 rand.
