EMPLOYER ADMITS HE EMPLOYED FOREIGNERS BUT REFUSES TO EMPLOY SOUTH AFRICANS

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:00]We have foreign nationals working here, but they're working long before the law was implemented.

[00:00:04]>> But how many foreigners do we have currently? How many?

[00:00:07]>> I'll have to check.

[00:00:08]>> Okay. So, >> quite a bit. We're going to wait here.

[00:00:11]They're not going to work.

[00:00:15]>> If I may ask you, what's your criteria of of employing people? Cuz I I can tell you this, right? I can tell you this. We are aware that in your company, you usually just then here you say you can just employ anyone.

[00:00:30]uh people are not employed as per their CVs and credentials in your company.

[00:00:35]Yes, I understand maybe whatever job that they may be occupying is not a critical skill. It's just the general work.

[00:00:42]>> But however, >> uh I want to know if when you employ people here, do you list them with UIF?

[00:00:49]Are they properly registered? Are people paying tax? And should anything happen, let's just say somebody gets injured here, are they going to be compensated?

[00:00:58]If it happens that the if it happens that you terminate the contract, uh is that particular person going to be is going to claim from UIF? Secondly, when you say you've got people that are from this community that are employed here, >> if you don't mind, can you come with a list of your employees so that we may see that it's it's people that are within the community >> and if you have foreign nationals, what criteria did you use to employ foreign nationals? Cuz to start with, according to South African labor laws and according to the South African constitution, you can never employ a foreign national to do a nonrest skill.

[00:01:36]Not unless be you can prove beyond reasonable doubt that there isn't a South African who's qualified to do that particular job. And as of 2023 from the South African uh h gazette from home affairs and the department of labor, a general workers visa is no longer valid. A person who will be employed in South Africa, it's a person with rest skills. If it's somebody who's going to do a a a a general work, you should prove beyond like I'm saying beyond reasonable doubt that there isn't a qualifying South African.

[00:02:09]>> Yeah. All this these are very specific technical questions you're asking.

[00:02:13]You're getting into specifics.

[00:02:15]>> No, they're not specific.

[00:02:16]>> If you quote in the gazette, >> you quote in the gazette and you want to know about their skills, >> we employ a lot of people here that unskilled. They are local people. the people that uh we have foreign nationals working here, but they're working long before the law was implemented.

[00:02:35]>> What we want to to to put out there, >> it's the it's the issue of you guys employing foreign nationals to begin with. It's not nice to come and disturb a business to come and disturb production. It's not nice. We don't want to be knocking out at your doors like this.

[00:02:49]>> But you don't knock.

[00:02:50]>> Yeah, they didn't knock. That lady was pushing away inside.

[00:02:53]>> No, the other day we came here and then the the security guys uh left with you, >> right? see Victor what the proper thing is the proper procedure is to make an appointment come through have a discussion we got our guy that does the our HR >> he can give you the list whatever you require he'll give you the list >> okay so but now I I wanted to understand from you as an employer that operates in the South African market we we all know the law in fact not even the law but it's also common sense to say if I operate in this business space it's my duty as an employer to empower locals it starts there you give back to the community where you are operating. Yes.

[00:03:31]But to have foreign nationals that comes from uh outside the South African borders that are in a position of passports, I can tell you now this people have got traveling documents.

[00:03:40]Passport is a it's a visitor's visa. You are here for a short while. You're not supposed to be integrating in the community and and and working. That's an unlawful act.

[00:03:50]>> So we are saying all the foreign nationals that are here, I don't know if it's five of them or how many because the community knows better. they are the ones that often come here right you and I let's find a way to not even find a way let's remove those people uh what we can what we are planning in fact intending to do for you also because we don't want a situation where we are saying employ our locals and you you get people that are going to >> we employ locals but the thing is is a big problem for the locals Monday you know the story Monday is a problem >> that's why that's the point I'm trying to get to that's the point I'm trying to get to I'm saying to you we will take full accountability ility. We give you the people. We ensure that they they they uh comply. We ensure that they come to work on time and we're not for going to interfere especially if a person comes and and disrespect the your your business and and and or or does not follow protocol or or or or or does not want to comply. You've got every right to take action again. And we also cannot protect people that don't want to come to work. But we are saying we do have got uh uh capable South Africans that are willing to work. We are here now.

[00:04:54]There's a lot of people willing to work, a lot of people capable. We understand that. But when it can take so many people, you understand our business is not so big.

[00:05:01]>> So at the moment, we've got about one two we've got four people from the community working.

[00:05:06]>> Yes. But what I'm not what I'm not happy about is that when you say uh South Africans don't want to work in each and every country has Okay, let me let me finish. Let me finish. Let me let me give him a chance to finish. uh this people that you guys are speaking highly of today they come from they they before foreign before foreign invasion they found us with a functioning country you guys had people that you had employed in this businesses who were South Africans we every country even there where they come from you will find those that are not well behaved it's it's it's it's social ills are found in each and every country but we cannot now uh try and paint all South Africans with the same cash so we are saying those that don't want to work deal with them but we have got a group of South Africans here they are they've got their CVs in ready they can even start now if they can even start working now we ready >> it's fine we want to help everyone but the thing is you know the business is such that as our business is seasonal we can't employ everyone all the time >> yes we don't want you to employ everyone but what we can do >> as a thing gesture of goodwill we'll accept your CVS okay and then you come another time we'll sit down and we'll go through it But how many foreigners do we have currently? How many?

[00:06:19]>> I'll have to check.

[00:06:20]>> Okay. So can can we can can we address the other rest later? But let's talk about let's say if it's four of them. We want those people removed. We are saying we are ready.

[00:06:29]>> They not those people are not employed.

[00:06:32]They they are doing critical skill work.

[00:06:35]We can't replace them. If we take someone new in then we got to train them. They don't take us.

[00:06:40]>> No. But sir, can I remind you that South Africa is the one teaching the entire continent everything. We've got the best unities. These people are are coming to study in our country. So what? Okay.

[00:06:50]What critical skill will a person coming from Zimbabwe or Malawi offer a South African?

[00:06:56]>> No. No. One question.

[00:07:00]>> You say people >> we have like how many people from the community?

[00:07:06]>> From this community? Four.

[00:07:07]>> Yes. Four. How many foreigners you have?

[00:07:09]>> I got to check.

[00:07:11]>> You got to check. But they come more than >> But those people from the community >> when you take people on now they can train those people.

[00:07:21]>> Thank you.

[00:07:22]>> They can train those people to do what to operate sources and all that. It's not a problem.

[00:07:29]>> We we are willing to negotiate anything except for for allowing foreigners to work here. That one that one I think that's where we're going to have a problem. We we don't mind. He can guide us. It's his business. We don't want to force him. But however, with the issue of foreign nationals, that one we not we're not willing to negotiate. We want them out.

[00:07:45]>> We want them out. If if it means we we can have more people that no foreign there's no foreign national that can come from outside from the African uh uh borders from outside the Africa the the South African borders and come and and come and and and offer critical skills in South Africa. All these people are coming from failed states. They are all coming from failed states. So now we teaching them everything but Luna you guys are now saying they are offering which critical skill are they offering?

[00:08:08]We train them. So it'll take us train our people. Guys, guys, wait. Okay.

[00:08:15]>> Let's train our people.

[00:08:17]You know what?

[00:08:18]>> According according to to to the labor act, >> you as a company once you employ people, there's something that we call inservice training.

[00:08:25]>> Yes.

[00:08:26]>> Inservice training. That's where it starts cuz already you said you've got four people who've been working for you who are South Africans. Am I right? And >> not South Africans. They from the community. There's only two.

[00:08:38]>> So that means they from the next to the other companies as well. Why you >> ma'am ma'am?

[00:08:47]You see if you guys are following the law we are not going to interrupt here.

[00:08:50]We don't appreciate that because to begin with you guys are not complying you guys please one company at a time please just give it time you talk I'm talking to you I'm talking anyway we will be Can you please just take this?

[00:09:26]>> Okay.

[00:09:29]>> Okay. Let's do this. Let's do this.

[00:09:33]>> Okay. Let's do this.

[00:09:38]Can I engage with you on the side? Can I engage with you on the side?

[00:09:42]>> Can I come into here, >> guys? Okay. It's fine. We're going to wait here. They're not going to work >> because of he doesn't want to talk to us and we are being civil with him. So if if he doesn't want civilization, >> we'll make sure that they're not going to operate here.

[00:09:59]>> We'll make sure that they're not OPERATING HERE.

[00:10:03]>> But we won't concern you act like we starting problems. You're breaking the law.

[00:10:09]>> Today they're not going to win.

[00:10:12]>> You have to keep your word. You have to keep your word, sir.

[00:10:15]>> Okay.

[00:10:17]Leadership. What? Which way is that?

[00:10:18]There's something >> that is going to concede that is going to take them.

[00:10:21]>> No, there's no concern.

[00:10:23]>> But what about the foreigners? Are they >> The foreigners must go out. There's no remains.

[00:10:27]>> That's the question. We don't have a problem. But you're saying the foreigners. Yes, they are.

[00:10:31]>> No, we have to get rid of them because you can you please get rid of the massive massive.

[00:10:37]>> We don't want to come here >> because we've got so many kids who are not working.

[00:10:41]>> And that's the reason why we're here.

[00:10:44]>> I respect you and please consider.

[00:10:46]>> Yes. Please.

[00:10:47]>> So, so as long as he's willing to work, we are saying as long as foreigners are removed here, we're not going to come here. We we will respect this business.

[00:10:54]No, we don't have to come to him. We don't have to come here.

[00:10:56]>> Don't come with an aggressive attitude to break in or not.

[00:10:59]>> Why would we break in? We came here and we're representing an organization >> and not one day.

[00:11:04]>> Why did you want to shut the door on top of us?

[00:11:06]>> So, Anna, just leave the door.

[00:11:08]>> No, you stand outside.

[00:11:09]>> Just leave the door.

[00:11:09]>> No, you stand outside and >> you would never have came out if that door was closed.

[00:11:14]>> You wouldn't have come.

[00:11:16]Do I say anything?

[00:11:18]>> You see now once the employer respects the law. No, all of us we are forced to respect them and and and and once you break the laws then you are calling for attention and we start acting funny. You don't like it. We don't want to do that.

[00:11:29]We want to respect your businesses. We want to allow you guys to to have grow your businesses. Let's just let's just comply with the laws of this country.

[00:11:37]That's it. That's all we asking.

[00:11:39]>> As long as he's committing to removing foreigners, they want us here. The law has come.

[00:11:46]work within the law. If you don't work within the law, you know what?

[00:11:53]Mr. I'll call you tomorrow.

[00:12:01]I'm sure this afternoon come this afternoon.

[00:12:08]Maybe tomorrow I need it.

[00:12:09]>> Yeah, I have definitely qualif as a brief.

[00:12:19]>> They did the same thing.

[00:12:20]>> Yeah, >> we work with Jerry. They asked Jerry also. He's in charge of the community >> and then we took the undertaking. We employed a lot of people.

[00:12:28]>> But the EFF promotes this thing of illegal immigrants coming here. So that's why we don't even want to mention >> No, no, they want employment for the people around here. If they I know they speak for foreigners. The other day there was a Malawian.

[00:12:40]>> No, no, no. Leave the politics but for the local people they gave the CV.

[00:12:45]>> But you're the one who mentioned EFF.

[00:12:46]I'm trying to explain what the other day when you were here EFF guy came here who is a Malawian.

[00:12:51]>> He was he was here. He was here. Yes.

[00:12:54]Years after you left an EFF guy was here.

[00:12:57]>> Which EFF guy?

[00:12:58]>> He was speaking to this gentleman.

[00:13:01]>> He said he's from the labor desk. He said he's a foreigner who is working for the EFF. He says he's part of the labor that's there by the EFF. So that's why we don't want to hear anything to do with the EFF because they are not speaking for us. Those people want they have got dream a dream of becoming a a continental leaders.

[00:13:16]>> Can I can I correct you?

[00:13:17]>> Yes. Correct.

[00:13:18]>> Okay. That guy from EF he came same like you and then he's not a Malawi.

[00:13:24]>> He's a Malawian.

[00:13:25]>> He's a Malawian.

[00:13:26]>> I can attest from even trying to speak to vendor.

[00:13:28]>> Let me tell you he said he's vendor and I spoke in vendor with him. He he never understood and I spoke in vendor with him.

[00:13:35]>> I'm vendor. I spoke with him. It's not first time I spoke with him. I met him in the garage.

[00:13:39]>> But I spoke with Okay. Can I ask you this? Can I ask you this question? When he was here, he said he's vendor. Didn't I speak vendor with him?

[00:13:47]>> No. Myself. Didn't I speak vendor with him that day?

[00:13:50]>> And then he was responding.

[00:13:51]>> No, we got it on record.

[00:13:54]>> Okay.

[00:13:55]>> We got it on record.

[00:13:56]>> Okay. Now, now a quick recap.

[00:13:59]finaliz.

[00:14:06]>> Yeah. No, always >> the day we were here, the four guys that work here from our area, they were put on to short time.

[00:14:17]>> I think they get money from >> obviously. Obviously.

[00:14:21]Let me tell you. Let me tell you why I'm saying those EFF guys are getting money.

[00:14:25]I did not know this gentleman that day.

[00:14:27]You remember when we parked there, he passed. I did not know that he's the owner of the company. All of a sudden, hardly 90 seconds that EFF guy was here.

[00:14:38]>> Hardly. How did he know that there's people who were here?

[00:14:41]>> How did he know that there's people who are here?

[00:14:43]>> They found the securityities now. So, >> let them call the cops. They can even call the army.

[00:14:49]Army, >> everyone.

[00:14:51]>> Oh, let let them even call the army.

[00:14:52]like community. Uh we will do a big >> [bell]