Day: October 10, 2022

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Employment and Labour on Chinese trial of human trafficking and child labour

Chinese trial of human trafficking and child labour once again postponed in the absence of an interpreter

The trial of seven Chinese nationals arrested for alleged human trafficking and child labour was today postponed in the Johannesburg High Court to next week Friday because the Court is still trying to get a Mandarin interpreter. 

It emerged in Court today that the previous interpreter spoke Cantonese and the accused were battling to follow proceedings as they did not understand the language. Cantonese is one of the dialect of Chinese language.

The seven Chinese accused are Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian. They are facing schedule six offenses which include trafficking in persons, contravention of Immigration Act, kidnapping, pointing a firearm, debt bondage, benefitting from the services of a victim of trafficking, conduct that facilitates trafficking, illegally assisting person(s) to remain in South Africa, and failure to comply with duties of an employer.

In another development accused number two, Chen Hui also tried to flee South Africa using the Lebombo Border post. He was arrested last month (September) and is now in custody. He now joins another fellow accused (number seven) Zhang Zhilian who is also in custody because on 24 February 2021 violated her bail conditions by trying to flee the country. She was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport. The other accused are out on bail.

Last October (2021) the accused in a written statement read by their attorney Jannie Kruger made an admission of guilt for violation of several South Africa’s labour laws. However, the other charges still stand and they will continue to face trial on those.

Kruger told the Court that the accused could not understand a “single word” in English. He said in the interest of justice the State has a responsibility to get an interpreter who speaks Mandarin.

The accused were arrested in 2019 for allegedly running an illegal enterprise called Beautiful City Pty Ltd located at Village Deep in Johannesburg in a joint operation by the Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) together with the South African Police Services (SAPS) Hawk Unit and the Department of Home Affairs.

The Chinese factory was allegedly processing the inner cotton of blankets using recycled clothing. The accused have pleaded not guilty to the other charges. They are expected back in court on 21 October 2022.

Prosecutor, Advocate V. Dube said in the next appearance the State will be submitting what is called Section 66 application and to sort out the issue of the interpreter. 

Source: Government of South Africa

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President Cyril Ramaphosa officiates commissioning of a new production plant in Lanseria, 12 Oct

President Ramaphosa officiates commissioning of a new production plant in Lanseria, 13 Oct

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 12 October 2022, address a gathering marking the commissioning of a state-of-the-art plastics production plant by the ALPLA Group, leading international manufacturer.

The event will be held at the ALPLA Production Plant at Lanseria, Gauteng.

In his 2020 State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa positioned infrastructure development and the establishment of new cities as means to stimulate the economy and increase employment.

The ALPLA investment is a key contribution to the Lanseria Smart City masterplan.

The ALPLA Group’s US$50 million commitment will not only drive sustainability and recycling in the country, but will create and sustain 350 jobs, with an apprenticeship programme that will train 36 mechatronics and recycling technicians for ALPLA operations across southern Africa.

The apprentice programme will commence in 2023 with the first 12 South African apprentices from local communities beginning their training in the plastics technology and machining technology trades in the ‘Future Corner’ training centre in Lanseria.

In the new headquarters for Sub-Saharan Africa, the ALPLA group is merging five previous plants which were located in Harrismith, Denver, Isando, Kempton Park and Samrand.  The new location in Lanseria features 35 000 square metres of covered production, administration and storage space, another 12 500 for future expansion, and 30 000 square metres of roof area equipped with solar panels.

ALPLA is one of the leading companies for plastic packaging and recycling.

Around 22 100 employees produce tailor-made packaging systems, bottles, closures and injection moulded parts at 177 locations in 45 countries.

The new plant will produce bottles, closures and special packaging for the food, personal and home care, chemical, cleaning agent and pharmaceutical industries – a total of around 3.5 billion pieces per year.

ALPLA uses six different technologies, including injection and compression moulding, injection stretch blow moulding and extrusion blow moulding. In addition to international corporations, ALPLA also supplies smaller local companies with plastic packaging solutions.

The address by the President will be live streamed on all PresidencyZA Digital platforms just after 15h00.

Source: Government of South Africa

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Health on World Mental Health Awareness Day

World Mental Health Awareness Day – 10 October

South Africa joins the global community to commemorate the World Mental Health Day to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health.

 The Day also provides an opportunity for all stakeholders in the area of mental health to talk about mental health issues, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

Stigma and discrimination are some of the leading contributing factors that exacerbate the situation and delay or stop mental health patients from getting help, hence the department appeals to family and community members to play a key role in providing significant support and care to persons suffering from mental illness/psychological distress.

In South Africa the most common mental health disorders include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and substance use disorders.

The 2022 World Mental Health Day campaign is commemorated under the theme: “Make mental health and well-being for all a global priority” which serves as a clarion call for governments, donor funders and all stakeholders worldwide to prioritise mental health.

This is because, among others, international development assistance for mental health is estimated to be less than 1% of all development assistance for health and this can be improved.

South Africa spends 5% of the total health budget on mental health services. This is in line with the lower end of international benchmarks of the recommended amount that countries should spend on mental health.

The latest available data indicate that on average, most countries spend about 2.13% of their total health budgets on mental health which does not correspond with the scale of the problem and the burden of mental ill-health.

As part of the efforts to decentralise mental health services which historically were provided only in specialised psychiatric hospitals, the department has been integrating mental health into general health services environment in line with the Mental Health Care Act, 2002 to ensure that people access mental health services nearer to where they stay or work.

So far, over 40 mental health/psychiatric units have been attached to general hospitals across the country.

These units provide comprehensive mental health care, treatment and rehabilitation on an inpatient and outpatient basis and refer to specialized psychiatric hospitals only those who need more specialized and complex interventions.

The National Health Council has resolved that construction of all new health facilities, hospitals or clinics, should have a dedicated mental health unit included to improve access to quality mental health services.

The department working with provinces, has contracted 126 private specialists including the psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, occupational therapists and registered counsellors to complement the already available staff and provide mental health services at primary health care and also conduct mental observations as part of interventions to fast track mental observations in terms of the Criminal Procedure’s Act. These extra hands will further improve access to and quality of mental health services. 

On the other hand, the health workers at primary health care level are trained using the Adult Primary Care (APC) tool to improve their skills in early identification, effective management, and timely referral of those who need higher level interventions.

Health care workers working in general hospitals that admit people with mental health conditions are also regularly in-serviced to strengthen and update their skills in mental health services provision

Source: Government of South Africa

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Odendaalsrus police seeks missing man

FREE STATE – Police in Odendaalsrus are seeking the community’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a 31-year-old man who went missing at K9 Kutloanong in Odendaalsrus.

It is alleged that on the 07 October 2022, Alexandra Mlambo went missing after his uncle gave him money and sent him at the shops to buy something. After an hour of not returning back, the uncle called him on his cellphone and discovered he left it behind at home. The uncle enquired from Alexandra’s friends if they have seen him but could not find him.

Mr Mlambo, Alexandra’s uncle, went to report a missing person and a missing person file has been registered and investigated by the Odendaalsrus police.

He was last seen wearing a black jeans with a green top, green cap and black tekkies.

Anyone who can assist in tracing Alexandra Mlambo, or know his whereabouts may contact Detective Captain Kaiser Chalube at 082 301 2797 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Tip-offs can also be submitted by using the My SAPS App.

Source: South African Police Service

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Media Invitation: Police Minister, SAPS and Hawks management to brief media on latest success to combat illegal mining in the country

NORTH WEST – The Management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) led by the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele will visit the crime scene where 24 firearms were seized and 20 suspects arrested following a takedown operation at a mining shaft in Stilfontein.

The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola and the National Head of the DPCI, Lieutenant General (Dr/Adv) Godfrey Lebeya and the Provincial Commissioner of the North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena will form part of the delegation.

The media is invited to cover proceedings as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 11 October 2022

Time: 10:30

Venue: Stilfontein Police Station Lapa, North West

Media RSVP: Colonel Athlenda Mathe 082 040 8808

Source: South African Police Service

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Three arrested for hijacking in Zamelda

FREE STATE – Three suspects arrested for multiple crimes on Saturday, 08 October 2022.

Zamdela Police members received a lookout for a hijacked white Toyota Corolla Quest on its way to Zamdela from Soshanguve on Friday 07 October 2022. The vehicle was spotted and stopped by Zamdela SAPS who upon searching found bank cards and a wallet.

Members further found two hidden firearms wrapped with a plastic on the left side of the passenger seat door.  Two firearms and five live rounds were recovered.

The three suspects, aged 40, 46 and 61 years, were arrested and will appear before Sasolburg Magistrates Court facing charges of hijacking, possession of unlicensed firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of dangerous weapon.

Source: South African Police Service