Seven Chinese nationals found guilty on charges related to kidnapping and forced labour have been sentenced to 20 years in prison in the high court in Johannesburg.
Kevin Tsao, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian were convicted in March on 158 charges of kidnapping and forced labour involving 91 Malawian nationals.
The case followed a 2019 Hawks raid on a Village Deep factory, Beautiful City Pty Ltd, where undocumented Malawians, including minors, were found working in appalling conditions, without proper pay or leave.
The daughter of one of the accused, who goes by the name Nancy Xiao, claims the accused weren’t aware of the gravity of the crime and had challenges understanding English.
“We all think this is just a small problem. Nobody tells [told us] what’s going on and how serious is this [this is]. They’re lying to them, they [accused] can’t understand English, and the previous lawyer, Kruger, knows everything. They are all lying. He doesn’t know a thing.”
[In Pictures] Today, Acting Judge Mhango sentenced the Seven Chinese Nationals to direct imprisonment for 20 years each for Human Trafficking, #ChildLabour and violation of various Labour Laws of the RSA. #Yazini #GovZAUpdates #ServiceDelivery pic.twitter.com/kn6ZR3heol
— Jomo Sibiya, MP 🇿🇦 (@DmJomo) September 10, 2025
@DmJomo Sibiya, Inspector General Ms Moiloa, Chief Inspector Ms Ruiters, Gauteng CDPO Mr Mokomatsidi and DEL Exco are at Gauteng South High Court for the sentencing proceedings of the Seven Chinese Nationals#Yazini #ServicedeliveryZA #GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/ZT7HOICtTk
— Department of Employment and Labour (@deptoflabour) September 10, 2025
