Durban – A factory owner and 35 illegal immigrants employees were arrested on Wednesday, at a shoe factory in Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal police said.
Spokesperson Nqobile Gwala said they were assisted by the Immigration officials from Home Affairs and Durban Public Order Police to apprehend the suspects.
"The Crime Intelligence officers gathered information on a shoe factory operating in Chatsworth which had illegal immigrants in their factory," Gwala said.
Gwala said after they had done sufficient ground work, they decided to act on the information they had at hand.
"After a short briefing between the role players, they proceeded to Silverglen where they pounced at a factory which employed 300 staff members for a surprise inspection."
Gwala said officials began their inspection and discovered that 35 employees did not possess any work permits and were also in the country illegally. "All the 35 illegal employees were arrested; most of them were from Lesotho and Malawi."
Gwala said investigations discovered that the owner was aware that the people he hired were in the country illegally. He was arrested and will face charges of employing illegal immigrants in his factory.
All suspects arrested will appear in the Chatsworth Magistrate's Court on Thursday.