A Johannesburg court sentenced seven Chinese nationals to 20 years each for trafficking 91 Malawian workers, including 37 children, and forcing them to work under inhumane conditions at a factory in Village Deep.

The factory, named Beautiful City, produced blankets from recycled materials, and victims were subjected to long hours, minimal pay below the legal minimum wage, and dangerous working conditions, including operating defective machinery without safety gear.

Victims reported being transported in windowless trucks, forbidden from leaving the factory, working on holidays, and enduring 11-hour shifts seven days a week, with many suffering injuries due to unsafe conditions.

Police raided the factory on November 12, 2019, discovering victims confined behind high walls and razor fences, with armed guards preventing escape.

Prosecutors sought life sentences for the accused, including factory manager Kevin Tsao and supervisors, but the court handed down 20-year sentences, emphasizing the severity of the abuse.

Authorities praised the sentencing as a positive step in combating human trafficking, highlighting the importance of inter-departmental cooperation and ongoing efforts.

South Africa faces significant challenges with human trafficking, serving as a source, transit, and destination country, partly due to porous borders.

The accused, including factory manager Kevin Tsao and other supervisors, were charged with 158 counts related to human trafficking, kidnapping, illegal employment, and labor law violations, and were found guilty on 158 out of 160 charges.

The defendants, including Shu-Uei Tsao, Biao Ma, Hui Chen, Quin Li, Zhou Jiaquing, Junying Dai, and Zhilian Zhang, were convicted in February 2025 for trafficking victims from 2017 to 2019 during a raid in November 2019.

Many victims had previously worked in Chinese-owned factories in Malawi and were recruited under false pretenses to work in South Africa, where they faced restrictions on leaving, communication, and bringing outside food.