Chaos erupted at a construction site in Clayville near Tembisa in Ekurhuleni when more than 50undocumented foreign nationalswere arrested during a high-impact joint operation targeting non-compliant employers. The raid, which took place on Friday, February 27, was led by the Department of Employment and Labour in collaboration with the South African Police Service, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, and the Department of Home Affairs, following allegations that the site was employing dozens of undocumented foreign nationals. Some workers attempted to flee as authorities arrived on the premises, with one individual reportedly injuring himself while trying to escape.
In a video circulating online, foreign nationals can be seen running from police, while another is captured hiding inside the partially constructed building in an attempt to evade arrest. Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya said the raid, part of a multidisciplinary high-impact blitz inspection, targeted employers accused of exploiting undocumented workers. The site was also found to be in violation of other labour laws, and one construction permit was discovered to be fake, leading to its immediate shutdown.
Sibiya warned that employers face heavy fines and possible criminal records for hiring undocumented individuals, highlighting South Africa’s high unemployment rate and the need to protect local jobs. More than 50 individuals were taken into custody after failing to produce valid documentation permitting them to work or reside in the country.
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