The convicted individuals—Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian—were found guilty on 158 of the 160 charges brought against them.
Chinese traffickers convicted of kidnapping and forced labour
The case, which dates back to a 2019 raid, revealed that 91 Malawian nationals, including 37 children, had been trafficked into South Africa and forced to work under inhumane conditions at a factory called Beautiful City (Pty) Ltd in Village Deep, Johannesburg.
The victims, many of whom had been smuggled in shipping containers, were subjected to 12-hour shifts, paid below R1,000 per month, and barred from leaving the premises.
Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo confirmed the ruling, stating:
“This verdict is a victory for human rights and a message to traffickers that South Africa will not tolerate forced labour and human trafficking.”
The court heard testimonies from multiple victims detailing the extreme conditions inside the factory.
Workers were not allowed to use their phones, were forced to work on public holidays with only a R10 incentive for full Sunday shifts, and had R20 deducted from their wages if they used the bathroom.
Some of the victims still suffer from untreated injuries caused by operating machinery without proper training.
A four-year legal battle and the fight for justice
The seven accused were arrested on 12 November 2019, in a joint operation by the Hawks, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Employment and Labour, and Home Affairs.
The factory was raided after a tip-off revealed that illegal immigrants were being exploited for forced labour.
A key witness in the trial, retired police captain M. Modibo, who led the raid, testified that officers were initially denied entry to the factory
“We had to climb over the gates to gain access. What we found inside was shocking,” he told the court.
The defence, however, attempted to dismiss the case, with Jannie Kruger, counsel for the accused, arguing that the state’s case was based on “embellished” witness statements.
Despite these claims, the court found overwhelming evidence against the accused.
Two of the convicted individuals, Chen Hui and Zhang Zhilian, had previously violated their bail conditions by attempting to flee the country and were taken into custody.
The remaining five are out on bail but now await sentencing.
While the court’s ruling marks a significant legal victory, authorities are still searching for a middleman known only as “the transporter,” who allegedly smuggled the Malawian victims into South Africa.
