Seven nabbed during a joint road, freight, and logistics inspection of the problematic sector

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Seven people were arrested during a joint departmental inspection operation - two had warrants issued against them and five for working in the country illegally.

The Department of Employment and Labour in partnership with eThekwini Metro Police, Department of Home Affairs (DHA), and SAPS today (07 November) conducted a two-hour joint inspection blitz of road, freight, and logistics sector on the M7 freeway in Clairwood, near Durban.

Department of Employment and Labour KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Chief Inspector (PCI), Mlungisi Zondi said he was shocked by the continued and well-calculated violation and non-compliance to labour laws by the road, freight, and logistics sector. Zondi said out of today's inspection the Department's Inspection and Enforcement Services had generated data that would be used to visit 218 companies.

During the operation, dozens of trucks were pulled over and a number of drivers said they were not registered and were paid per load despite the existence of National Minimum Wage (NMW), not registered for social security like unemployment insurance fund and compensation for occupation injuries and diseases act.

"What we uncovered today is the tip of the iceberg. We will be embarking on follow-up with on-site inspections," Zondi said.

Today's inspections were also graced by the presence of Employment and Labour Deputy Minister, Jomo Sibiya who said illegality will no longer be tolerated. Sibiya said the State needs to act firmly when its authority is undermined.

The Department started the week-long blitz inspections on Monday (04 November 2024). The joint workplace inspections were part of a build-up programme towards the Presidential District Development Model (DDM)/Imbizo that will be held on 08 November 2024. These focused on retail; hospitality and tourism; iron and steel; industrial areas; road, freight, and logistics.

Zondi said in the week-long programme by today 1500 workplaces had been visited.

The illegal immigrants arrested during the road, freight, and logistics operation will be charged under Section 491 (A) of Immigration Act 13, 2002 - for entering and remaining in the country without valid Visas.

Zondi said the road, freight, and logistics need to take transformation seriously and be patriotic corporate citizens.

This week's inspections focused on enforcing compliance with the National Minimum Wage; the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA); the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act; the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID) Act; the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Act; and Sectoral Determinations.

For more information, please contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ [email protected]

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

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