Daughter of Chinese national sentenced for human trafficking claims kingpin still operating in Joburg

JOHANNESBURG - The daughter of a Chinese national who was sentenced for human trafficking with six others on Wednesday insists that the convictions will not end the crisis in the country.

The seven will each serve 20 years behind bars for kidnapping 91 Malawian nationals in 2019, 37 of whom were children, and forcing them to work in a Joburg factory.

Meanwhile, Nancy Xiao claims that places like Dragon City and China Mall in Joburg’s CBD harbour undocumented foreign nationals who’ve been trafficked into the country and exploited.

In response to Xiao’s claims, both the Hawks and the deputy minister of labour have committed to investigating further.

Xiao also claimed that a powerful kingpin with links to firearms was still operating freely in Johannesburg, alleging that he was the real mastermind behind the trafficking network.

"You know, those Malawians, they don't need visas to get in this country. And there's many, many in Malawian workers finding jobs in there, if you go to the China shopping centre."

The Hawks confirmed they were in contact with Xiao and said that they were working closely with relevant embassies as part of their follow-up.

For now, the investigation continues, with her explosive allegations adding a new layer to this complex case.