The Johannesburg High Court is set to hand down its sentencing on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, in the consequential case of seven Chinese nationals convicted on 160 charges related to human trafficking and child labor.
The accused—Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian—were found guilty on 25 February 2025. Their convictions pertain to a range of serious Schedule 6 offences, which carry stringent minimum sentences in South Africa.
The charges against the group are extensive and include aiding and facilitating human trafficking, bondage, and benefiting from the exploitation of victims. They were also convicted for assisting illegal immigrants to remain in the country.
The case originated from a high-profile police raid conducted in November 2024. The operation targeted a factory located in Village Deep, Johannesburg, which was operated under the company name Beautiful City (PTY) LTD. All seven accused were listed as representatives of the company in court proceedings.
