19 DETAINED AS GOVERNMENT BLITZ UNCOVERS LABOUR AND SAFETY BREACHES IN NELSON MANDELA BAY
Published: August 28, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
Nineteen (19) undocumented persons were detained during a major government enforcement operation in Nelson Mandela Bay that also uncovered significant alleged breaches of South African labour, workplace safety and employee protection laws.
The Multidisciplinary High Impact Blitz Inspections were led by Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Jomo Sibiya, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Njabulo Nzuza, and Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Cllr Babalwa Lobishe.
The operation brought together the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Police Service, the South African National Defence Force and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
The inspections targeted the manufacturing and construction sectors, focusing on compliance with laws designed to protect workers, regulate workplaces and ensure that businesses operate within the legal framework of the Republic of South Africa.
At a construction site in Circular Drive, Gqeberha, inspectors identified multiple areas requiring enforcement action.
The findings included non-compliance with requirements relating to employment contracts and payslips, as well as concerns relating to payment for overtime and work performed on public holidays.
Inspectors also identified non-compliance involving the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.
Two employers were found not to be registered with the Compensation Fund, while employees were found not to have been registered for unemployment insurance.
The findings have significant implications for worker protection. Registration with statutory systems such as the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Compensation Fund provides workers with access to important protections and benefits in circumstances including unemployment, maternity leave and occupational injuries and diseases.
The operation also uncovered concerns relating to workplace safety.
Inspectors found scaffolding that had not been properly erected or labelled, while required safety signage at the site was found to be inadequate.
The findings raise serious concerns about compliance with South Africa's Occupational Health and Safety Act, which places legal responsibilities on employers to protect the health and safety of workers.
The Department of Home Affairs component of the operation resulted in the detention of 19 undocumented persons. Authorities also identified alleged breaches of immigration legislation by employers.
A Coordinated Enforcement Response
Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe said the results demonstrate why coordinated enforcement across government and law enforcement agencies is essential.
"The findings from this operation demonstrate the value of government acting in a coordinated and decisive manner,” said Lobishe.
"Workers cannot be denied the protections provided for by law. Their safety cannot be compromised, and employers cannot disregard their legal responsibilities”.
"Our responsibility is to ensure that businesses operating in Nelson Mandela Bay contribute to an economy that is lawful, responsible and safe for those who work in it.”
Lobishe said the operation was not directed at a single sector or employer but formed part of a broader and sustained effort to strengthen compliance.
"The message is clear. Compliance with South African law is not optional.
"Whether the issue concerns employment practices, worker benefits, occupational safety or immigration requirements, every employer and business must meet its legal obligations.”
Protecting Workers and Strengthening Compliance
The enforcement operation comes amid continued concerns about vulnerable workers who may be exposed to unsafe working conditions or denied statutory protection and benefits.
The coordinated approach allows government departments and law enforcement agencies to address multiple areas of compliance simultaneously, ensuring that labour rights, workplace safety and immigration requirements are not treated as isolated issues.
Deputy Minister Sibiya and Deputy Minister Nzuza joined the Executive Mayor in briefing members of the SAPS, Metro Police and the South African National Defence Force ahead of the operation.
The presence of national government leadership alongside municipal and law enforcement authorities underscored the seriousness of the intervention.
The inspections form part of ongoing enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa and promote safer, orderly and law abiding communities.
Government Will Continue Enforcement Operations
Government departments and law enforcement agencies will continue conducting coordinated inspections across sectors where concerns about regulatory compliance are identified.
The focus remains on protecting workers, ensuring safe workplaces, strengthening compliance with South African legislation and holding businesses accountable for their statutory responsibilities.
"The purpose of enforcement is not simply to identify wrongdoing,” said Lobishe.
"It is to protect workers, uphold the law and ensure that the rights provided for in our legislative framework have real meaning in the workplaces and communities where South Africans live and work.”
The outcomes of the Nelson Mandela Bay operation will inform further enforcement and compliance interventions as government intensifies efforts to address violations of labour, occupational health and safety and immigration legislation.
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