Judgment expected to be handed down in human trafficking case against 7 Chinese nationals

JOHANNESBURG - Judgment in the human trafficking case against seven Chinese nationals is expected to be handed down on Tuesday in the Johannesburg High Court.  

They were arrested in November 2019 following a multidisciplinary investigation that uncovered a trafficking ring.  

The operation led to the rescue of 91 Malawian nationals, including 37 children, from a factory in the Johannesburg CBD.  

Authorities allege that the accused kidnapped and trafficked undocumented people into South Africa, subjecting them to forced labour under deplorable conditions.  

The factory, operated by Beautiful City Pty Ltd, produced cotton fibre sheets and kept workers confined within locked premises.  

The accused face 160 charges, including human trafficking, kidnapping, contravention of the Immigration Act, debt bondage, and violations of labour laws.  

Their initial bail applications were denied in 2020 due to concerns about potential flight risks.  

However, five of the accused were later granted bail after presenting new evidence, while two remain in custody for attempting to flee the country.