Cape Town – Seven Chinese nationals were sentenced to 20 years in prison by the South Gauteng High Court for human trafficking, child labour, and multiple violations of South Africa’s labour laws.
The group of four men and three women: Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian, ran an unregistered garment business, Beautiful City Pty Ltd, in Johannesburg, where they held over 100 illegal immigrants, including 37 children from Malawi, in unsafe conditions.
[In Pictures] Today, Acting Judge Mhango sentenced the Seven Chinese Nationals to direct imprisonment for 20 years each for Human Trafficking, #ChildLabour and violation of various Labour Laws of the RSA. #Yazini #GovZAUpdates #ServiceDelivery pic.twitter.com/kn6ZR3heol
— Jomo Sibiya, MP 🇿🇦 (@DmJomo) September 10, 2025
Arrested in November 2019 after a joint raid by SAPS, Hawks, Department of Employment and Labour, and Home Affairs, the defendants were convicted in February 2025 of 160 charges, including exploiting smuggled workers brought into the country in containers.
Seven Chinese nationals arriving in court for their sentencing, today at Gauteng South Division Court, Johannesburg
The Chinese nationals were found guilty of violating South Africa’s labour laws, human trafficking and Child labour#Yazini #ServicedeliveryZA #GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/3VUczlPH54— Department of Employment and Labour (@deptoflabour) September 10, 2025
According to the South African Police Services (SAPS), Colonel Katlego Mogale, the Johannesburg High Court handed down the sentences on Wednesday, 10 September.
“Law enforcement had received a tip-off about the factory illegally employing foreign nationals wherein the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation #Hawks was summoned for further investigation.
“The raid led to the rescue of 37 Mozambican nationals — including minors under the age of 17 — who had been smuggled into the country in shipping containers and forced to live and work under inhumane conditions”, said Mogale.
The case was handed to the Trafficking in Persons team in the Serious Organised Crime Investigation.
According to EWN, drama ensued post-sentencing when Nancy Xiao, daughter of one accused, claimed her family was being framed and alleged a powerful kingpin in South Africa orchestrated the trafficking.
Judge David Mhango upheld the convictions, citing strong evidence and thorough police work. The seven remain in custody.
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Compiled by Anda Tolibadi
