Cape Argus reports that a crackdown on companies employing more than 40% foreign labour is being vigorously pursued by the new minister of home affairs, with inspectors having begun a “mass inspection” of businesses countrywide.
Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize said on Wednesday her department’s inspectorate unit was continuing with inspections “at various places of employment to ensure compliance to this requirement, in terms of the Immigration Act”. The minister indicated that in the past two months a total of 85 places of employment had been visited, which included chain stores, farms, hotels and other businesses. The former home affairs minister, Malusi Gigaba, had previously said the inspections were being carried out to prioritise the employment of South Africans and had “nothing to do with xenophobia”. Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla commented: “When you consider we have over nine million unemployed people, the 60% requirement is inadequate. The figure needs to be revised to 75%.” The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), many of whose members are non-South Africans, has not yet taken a position on the legislation.
- Read this report by Siyabonga Sesant in full at Cape Argus
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