KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has warned employers that the province will no longer tolerate labour-law violations and the hiring of undocumented workers. His message came during an unannounced inspection at a truck depot near Durban Station - part of a targeted campaign to enforce South Africa’s labour legislation and safeguard local employment.
The inspection followed a surge of complaints from South African truck drivers who allege that some companies recruit undocumented foreign nationals at exploitative wages, sidelining local labour and undercutting fair-pay standards in an already pressured transport sector.
Working with the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Police Service and local law-enforcement units, the Premier’s office coordinated a wide-ranging blitz. Over the past 48 hours alone, police arrested more than 135 undocumented individuals during separate operations in Hammarsdale and Chatsworth.
Premier Ntuli emphasised that KwaZulu-Natal will intensify its crackdown on non-compliant employers while supporting legitimate businesses that follow the rules. "Our province must be a place where labour laws are respected and no employer exploits desperation," he said.
Beyond enforcement, the provincial government is expanding skills-development, training and placement programmes to help local residents—especially young people—secure sustainable work. These combined measures aim to uphold labour standards, curb illegal employment practices and strengthen the KwaZulu-Natal job market.
For South African job seekers and employers alike, the message is clear: adhere to labour laws, protect local talent and contribute to a fair, thriving economy.
