News24 Wire reports that seven Chinese citizens accused of human trafficking and kidnapping allegedly owe the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) more than R7 million, and the department wants them to face additional charges.  

They appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for a bail hearing.  There, the DEL’s chief inspector in Gauteng, Michael Msiza, testified that the department had requested that the seven be charged with additional offences for alleged contravention of labour laws.  According to the department, the legislation they apparently contravened included the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Unemployment Insurance Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the National Minimum Wage Act.  The matter was postponed to 12 February for the continuation of the bail application.  The accused were arrested in November last year for crimes allegedly committed at the Beautiful City factory in Village Deep, Johannesburg.  It’s alleged that they transported Malawian nationals to SA in containers.  During a raid, 91 Malawians were rescued from the factory.  At least 37 were children.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen

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