Seven Chinese nationals have been sentenced to 20 years in prison each after being convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping in South Africa. The group, consisting of four men and three women, was found guilty earlier this year and is expected to play a role in ongoing concerns regarding human trafficking in the country.
The conviction comes nearly six years after their arrest during a raid on a factory in Johannesburg, where local authorities discovered 91 Malawian nationals, including 37 children, working under dire conditions. The factory operated under the name “Beautiful City” and was involved in producing inner cottons for blankets.
The accused—Kevin Tsao, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian—were found guilty on 158 of 160 counts related to human trafficking and violations of South Africa’s labor laws, including failure to register their operations and keep accurate financial records. A worker’s escape led authorities to the factory, where employees reported working 11-hour shifts, seven days a week, without sufficient training or safety equipment.
Workers were paid significantly less than South Africa’s minimum wage of $1.64 per hour and experienced pay deductions for time off. Testimonies indicated that workers were not allowed to leave the heavily secured premises for basic needs like food, which was reportedly of poor quality.
It was reported that victims had been smuggled into South Africa via shipping containers. The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of human trafficking in South Africa, which officials describe as a “source, transit, and destination” for trafficked individuals.
The prosecuting authority expressed hope that this sentence would contribute to efforts against human trafficking, while the Department of Labour emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration among government agencies to address these challenges.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20v3n7wllzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss