Seven Chinese Citizens Sentenced to 20 years for Trafficking, Child Labor in South Africa. Image: YFM.
(The Post News)– Seven Chinese nationals, convicted on 160 counts of human trafficking and child labor, are awaiting sentencing from the Johannesburg High Court.
The accused Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian were found guilty on February 25, 2025. Their convictions involve a range of serious Schedule 6 offenses, which carry strict minimum sentences in South Africa.
The charges against the group are extensive and include aiding and facilitating human trafficking, bondage, and profiting from the exploitation of victims. They were also convicted of helping illegal immigrants stay in the country.
The case began with a high-profile police raid in November 2024 on a factory in Village Deep, Johannesburg. The business, operated under the company name Beautiful City (PTY) LTD, was where all seven of the accused were listed as representatives.
Police, acting on a tip-off about the illegal employment of foreign nationals, rescued 37 Mozambican and Malawian nationals, including minors under the age of 17. The human trafficking victims had been smuggled into South Africa in shipping containers and were forced to live and work under inhumane conditions.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the factory’s environment was prison-like. It was heavily fortified with high walls, razor wire, and armed guards to control the movements of the workers. Testimonies revealed that workers were transported in windowless trucks and banned from using phones. They were lured with false promises of better opportunities and then subjected to extreme exploitation.
Human Trafficking Victims Exploited
The human trafficking victims were forced to work 11-hour shifts, seven days a week, with no protective equipment or adequate rest. Many suffered injuries from operating unsafe machinery in a dusty environment lacking ventilation. Employees reported being paid just R65 per day, which equates to R6.50 per hour for a 10-hour workday, seven days a week, with no rest or leave. They faced unlawful wage deductions and were forced to live in squalid conditions.
During the trial, senior State Advocate Valencia Dube presented evidence from Malawian nationals and a South African truck driver who had been enticed to the factory with false promises. Five probation officers also submitted pre-sentencing reports. One of them, Antoinette Mkhari, who assessed the factory’s manager and supervisor, told the court that she believes the accused is not capable of rehabilitation.
Judge David Mhango found all seven individuals guilty, ruling that the State had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt and holding them accountable for gross violations of labor laws and the exploitation of vulnerable people. While the prosecution has argued for the minimum prescribed prison sentence, the defense has asked for a more lenient one.
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