Several Muslim-owned businesses are considering legal action, including seeking interdicts, following a series of government-led raids in recent weeks targeting workplaces suspected of employing undocumented migrant workers.
The developments come after officials from the Departments of Employment and Labour and Home Affairs, supported by the South African Police Service (SAPS), conducted a high-profile operation at Korteks, a textile manufacturer in Sunderland Ridge, Centurion, last Friday. Two deputy ministers attended the operation, which was also accompanied by television crews.
A similar operation was carried out at Sweet Hyper in Woodmead, north of Johannesburg. The retailer also operates outlets in Lenasia, Benoni and Crown Mines.
One Nation Media (ONM) has reliably learnt that Korteks, Sweet Hyper and several other businesses subjected to recent inspections are exploring legal avenues to prevent what they describe as further “unlawful” state action.
According to eyewitness accounts shared with ONM, a group of men in plain clothes entered the Sweet Hyper premises before uniformed officers arrived.
“None of them identified themselves, displayed a badge or appointment certificate, or stated the purpose of their presence,” a source said.
The source alleged that the officials proceeded to search the entire store and its warehouse facilities without obtaining the director’s permission or producing a search warrant.
“They walked through the entire store and every warehouse and searched the premises without the director’s permission and without a warrant. When asked whether they had a warrant, they said they did not require one.”
According to the account, uniformed SAPS members and Department of Home Affairs officials subsequently joined the operation and began inspecting employees’ documentation.
The company’s director was reportedly asked how many foreign nationals were employed by the business. He informed officials that the company employed six documented foreign nationals and produced their paperwork for inspection.
The source said the six employees were called forward, after which officials alleged that five were in South Africa unlawfully and arrested them.
“Within about five minutes, three were released after the officers accepted that their documents were in order. Two were taken to the police station, and one of them was later released after his passport was produced.”
The remaining employee is reportedly being investigated over a work permit that officials alleged was fraudulent.
The source further claimed that the company’s director was arrested without a warrant in connection with the disputed permit, despite allegedly cooperating with officials and insisting that he had no reason to believe the document was not genuine.
The operation was also described as intimidating for staff.
“Throughout the operation, two armed private security officers pointed firearms at employees in the warehouses and behaved abusively and intimidatorily towards them.”
According to a source familiar with the matter, Sweet Hyper had submitted more than six written requests to the Department of Home Affairs over the past two years seeking verification of work permits held by foreign employees, including the permit now alleged to be fraudulent.
The source alleged that none of those requests received a response.
“When the director raised this during the operation and asked where verification requests should be directed, the immigration officer told him that it was not his concern.”
Another business reportedly inspected during the recent compliance operations was Jolly Meats, a well-known Durban-based butchery.
The latest developments come amid heightened immigration enforcement across South Africa, with government departments conducting inspections at businesses employing foreign nationals as part of broader efforts to enforce labour and immigration laws.
ONM has approached SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Employment and Labour for comment on the allegations surrounding the Sweet Hyper operation.
At the time of publication, no responses had been received. The article will be updated should any responses be provided.
UPDATE: Police Minister establishes task team following concerns over immigration operations
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has established a dedicated task team following concerns raised by the United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA) over the conduct of immigration enforcement operations in the vicinity of places of worship.
Cachalia met UUCSA representatives on Thursday, 30 July, after the organisation raised concerns that several SAPS immigration enforcement operations had caused “considerable anxiety among congregants”, creating the perception that places of worship were becoming focal points for immigration-related enforcement.
Member of Parliament Imraan Subrathie also participated in the meeting.
According to the Ministry of Police, the new task team will include representatives from UUCSA, the SAPS operational environment and the Ministry of Police. It will develop practical protocols aimed at ensuring that law enforcement operations are conducted effectively while “minimising disruption during religious ceremonies and safeguarding the dignity and sanctity of places of worship”.
Cachalia also indicated that he would engage the Acting National Commissioner of SAPS, who would in turn engage provincial commissioners to promote greater consistency in policing practices across the country.
The development comes amid wider concerns over recent immigration enforcement operations, including inspections and raids involving Muslim-owned businesses. However, the Ministry of Police statement did not address the specific allegations surrounding the operations at Sweet Hyper or Korteks.
ONM previously approached SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe for comment on the allegations relating to the Sweet Hyper operation. At the time of publication, a response had not been received.
