Chinese Nationals Deny Human Trafficking Charges, Judgment Set For 2025

The trial of seven Chinese nationals accused of human trafficking and child labour entered its final stages, with the Gauteng High Court set to deliver a verdict on January 30, 2025.

The accused—Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian—face serious charges including human trafficking, labour exploitation, and immigration law violations. These charges stem from a 2019 raid at Beautiful City Pty Ltd, their factory in Village Deep, Johannesburg.

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Prosecutor Advocate Valencia Dube argued for conviction, stating that evidence presented during the trial showed systemic exploitation of vulnerable Malawian workers. According to Dube, the workers were subjected to substandard wages and unsafe working conditions, with their immigration statuses ignored to maximise profit.

Lawyers Challenge Human Trafficking Claims

Defence lawyer J. Kruger contested the allegations, claiming the state aimed to fabricate a human trafficking narrative. He argued that the workers had voluntarily come to South Africa and were not coerced.

Kruger also criticised the prosecution for failing to summon the corporate entity, Beautiful City Pty Ltd, as a co-defendant. “The state must address this irregularity,” he stated.

The prosecution argued that the accused knowingly exploited undocumented Malawian workers and violated labour and immigration laws by underpaying them and creating unsafe working conditions.

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The defence countered by claiming that the workers came willingly to South Africa and were not trafficked. They also argued that the prosecution unfairly targeted the defendants to build a human trafficking case.

Since their arrest in November 2019, five of the accused have been out on bail, while two remain in custody for attempting to flee the country.

The court’s decision will be critical in determining whether the actions at Beautiful City constitute human trafficking or if the defendants will walk free due to a lack of evidence. The judgement date has been set for January 30, 2025.

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