The South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has sentenced seven Chinese nationals to 20 years in prison each for their involvement in a human trafficking and forced labor operation. The defendants, identified as Shu-Uei Tsao, Biao Ma, Hui Chen, Quin Li, Zhou Jiaquing, Junying Dai, and Zhilian Zhang, were convicted on September 11, 2025.
The court found that between 2017 and 2019, the group trafficked 91 Malawians, including 37 children, into South Africa. Victims were forced to work in a cotton factory in Village Deep under inhumane conditions, enduring 11-hour shifts while being guarded by armed personnel and receiving no pay.
The case came to light following a raid in 2019 that was initiated after one of the victims managed to escape and report the abuses. This operation highlighted the severe exploitation faced by vulnerable individuals trafficked across borders.
The ruling marks a significant step in addressing human trafficking in South Africa, a country grappling with increasing cases of such crimes. The court"s decision underscores the need for continued vigilance and stronger measures against human trafficking operations. As previously reported, similar situations have sparked global attention and calls for action against trafficking networks.
