MAHIKENG, North West — A joint multidisciplinary inspection blitz conducted by the Departments of Labour and Employment and Home Affairs in Mahikeng has resulted in the detention of two undocumented foreign nationals and revealed minimum wage violations at a major local construction site. The operation, part of a broader national effort to strengthen compliance with labour and immigration legislation, scrutinized over 100 employees across various workplaces in the province.
At a prominent construction site located at the Won Psychiatric Hospital, officials discovered that the National Minimum Wage Act was not being adhered to, with several employees confirmed to be underpaid. Alongside labour violations, immigration officers from Home Affairs were on-site validating the documentation of all workers. This rigorous verification process led to the identification of two undocumented foreign nationals. The employer was subsequently fined R10,000, while the two individuals were arrested and are currently being processed for deportation. Enforcement notices are expected to be issued once the department’s verification process concludes.
A spokesperson for the Department of Labour and Employment highlighted that the blitz targeted multiple workplaces across the province, with the Won Psychiatric Hospital construction site serving as the primary focus. The inspection evaluated compliance with several critical frameworks, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) regulations, the Unemployment Insurance Act, and the Compensation for Injuries and Diseases Act.
Despite the regulatory intentions of the operation, the identity verification process sparked frustration among some workers. One South African employee expressed distress over the method of verification, noting that workers who forgot their physical ID books were immediately directed into a transport van without being asked for their ID numbers. The worker described the experience as feeling akin to an arrest, which they noted is considered a “bad omen” in their culture, and suggested that authorities could simply have asked individuals to stand aside for verification.
Conversely, the main contractor on site welcomed the joint inspection. The contractor stated with confidence that the site employs a maximum of 199 workers, all of whom are South Africans according to company records. Emphasizing that the site undergoes weekly checks by the Department of Labour and has never been closed, the contractor affirmed that operations remain “business as usual” and fully compliant.
A local business owner, who has operated in the country for over two decades, also affirmed their adherence to national regulations. The owner emphasized a commitment to providing job opportunities to local communities, maintaining a Close Corporation (CK) registration, holding local business licenses and certifications, and strictly complying with South African labour laws.
Officials from both the Labour and Home Affairs departments have confirmed that these multidisciplinary compliance assessments will continue across different workplaces throughout the North West province to ensure ongoing adherence to national legislation.
