Tough stance on hiring undocumented foreigners
THE Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi has issued a stern warning to South African companies that employ undocumented foreigners in their workplaces.
This comes after a Zimbabwean national, Kudakwashe Mpofu, who has been accused of working as chief financial officer in the North West Development Co-operation while illegally in the country, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The 32-year-oldreportedly resigned from his position at the weekend before handing himself over to authorities on Wednesday morning after it was alleged that, in 2022, Mpofu had used a fraudulent permit to stay in SA.
After investigations by the SAPS, Mpofu t handed himself over and was formally arrested. His matter in court was postponed to Tuesday for bail information and a possible bail bid.
Mpofu’s arrest and Nxesi’s statement comes just a month after Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi called for harsher sanctions against business owners who knowingly hired undocumented foreigners.
This week Nxesi said they were concerned about the increasing number of undocumented immigrants employed in the wholesale and retail sectors.
His department said it had been forced to implement the Employment Services Act after a recent three-day crackdown in Rustenburg, North West.
“The department’s inspection and enforcement service has noted with concern the number of undocumented foreign nationals employed in the wholesale and retail sectors.this was revealed during a three-day joint blitz inspection in Rustenburg.”
In what looks like a tough stance on the employment of undocumented foreigners, the department working with law enforcement agencies, issued more than 50 contravention notices and compliance orders against non-compliant employers in Rustenburg while nine undocumented foreigners were also arrested in the blitz.
This as the Department of Home Affairs confirmed the escape of about 70 undocumented foreign nationals from the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp, west of Joburg this week.
Home affairs indicated there was an altercation between the immigrants and security personnel at the centre which resulted in the escape.
“A (probe) revealed there was an altercation between the inmates and Environmongz management and its security team.” The undocumented 69 escaped during this altercation, the Home Affairs Department said.