The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) commends the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour on the blitz oversight inspection it conducted in Newcastle, KZN late last week.

COSATU in KZN deployed members of its leadership and local structures to assist in the operation conducted in conjunction with the Department of Employment and Labour, South African Police Service, Newcastle Metro Police and the Department of Home Affairs.

The blitz operation resulted in the arrest of business owners running a sweat shop in the Riverside industrial area. The group were in violation of immigration laws, having operated the sweat shop since 2018 after entering the country on holidays visas. Authorities also discovered illegal workers who had locked themselves in the living quarters during the inspection. The living quarters were in a poor state according to authorities.

A farm in Normandien was temporarily closed when it was found to have violated the Occupational Health & Safety Act. Workers were not provided with personal protective equipment; some had been injured on duty, but the incidents were never reported; and during the inspection workers were found eating in dusty environments.

In the Amajuba District textile and clothing industry, two Chinese nationals were arrested for labour and immigration violations following the discovery of 34 undocumented foreign workers. The company, Quing Xiu, was issued with a notice preventing it from resuming operations until all identified violations were addressed, including ensuring safe electrical installations, compliance with Unemployment Insurance and the Compensation funds. Workers living on-site were ordered to vacate the premises as the accommodation was a fire hazard, dangerous and unhygienic.

COSATU appreciates these operations as a means of strengthening accountability and protecting worker’s rights. Workers fought hard for this country’s progressive labour laws and deserve nothing less than to see them enforced without fear or favour when employers are non-compliant.

The Federation will continue to support oversight operations and also looks forward to working closely with the labour inspectorate to ensure workers are paid the increased National Minimum Wage of R30.23 as of 1 March 2026. COSATU is also pleased that labour inspectors are now empowered to enforce the payment of workers’ pension fund contributions to relevant funds within seven days of deduction from workers’ salaries. This ought to help significantly decrease the total outstanding contributions of R7.26 billion.

Issued by COSATU

Zanele Sabela (COSATU Spokesperson)

Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za