The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, has handed down lengthy prison sentences to seven Chinese nationals for the trafficking and exploitation of 98 Malawian nationals—among them three minors—for forced labour in Ekurhuleni. The convicted individuals, identified as Kevin Tsao, Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying and Zhang Zhilian, were sentenced on 25 February 2025 alongside their company, Beautiful City, which was also found guilty.
Each of the accused received a 20-year sentence for human trafficking, 10 years for kidnapping, and an additional 22 years for multiple violations of South Africa’s labour laws. They were further sentenced to three years for financial facilitation of the criminal enterprise. However, the court ruled that all sentences, except the trafficking charge, would run concurrently—resulting in an effective 20-year term for each. The company, Beautiful City, was ordered to pay a fine of R300,000.
The convictions follow a joint investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, and labour inspectors from the Department of Labour. The operation was launched after a tip-off to the South African Police Service about a suspected illegal immigrant being harboured at a business premises. This led to a raid on 12 November 2019, where law enforcement uncovered over 100 workers operating under exploitative and inhumane conditions at the Beautiful City factory in Ekurhuleni.
Further investigations by Warrant Officer Lulama Kona from the DPCI’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation revealed that the workers were trafficked into South Africa without documentation, transported in trucks under life-threatening conditions, and then distributed across various factories in Croesus, Boksburg and Benoni before being consolidated at Beautiful City. These individuals were paid well below the minimum wage and forced to work without protective gear, with some suffering serious injuries.
Senior State Advocate Valencia Dube urged the court to impose a sentence reflective of the severity of the crimes, arguing that human trafficking is not only an economic and humanitarian crisis but also contributes to South Africa’s continued greylisting by international financial crime watchdogs. She argued that the exploitation of foreign nationals at lower wages exacerbates local unemployment and deepens socio-economic inequalities.
In sentencing, Acting Judge David Mango noted the systemic nature of the abuse and the disturbing conditions under which the victims were held. While acknowledging that the accused were not the ultimate owners of the operation—one of whom is still at large—the judge stressed that the crimes were committed with full knowledge and intent. The factory owner remains under investigation.
Reacting to the judgment, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane stated that while the NPA respects the court’s discretion, it remains disappointed that the full weight of the law was not applied given the magnitude of the offences. She reiterated that trafficking in persons is a serious crime that strips victims of their dignity and freedom. The NPA believes the sentence sends a message, but more must be done to bring all those involved—particularly those at the helm—to justice.
Colonel Katlego Mogale, spokesperson for the DPCI, welcomed the conviction and highlighted the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in combatting human trafficking and transnational organised crime. She stressed that South Africa is not a safe haven for traffickers and that the Hawks will continue to pursue those who exploit vulnerable people for profit. Mogale added that while this case has seen justice for the victims, the DPCI remains committed to ensuring the arrest and prosecution of all responsible parties, including the factory owner who remains unaccounted for.
This case stands as a stark reminder that forced labour and trafficking remain a critical concern in South Africa, and that law enforcement agencies are increasingly determined to root out these crimes and protect the rights and dignity of all who live within the country’s borders.
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