Mother arrested along with shopkeeper after her child was found working during an inspection

• The mother of a child found working at a shop has been arrested and charged with child labour along with the employer
• It is illegal to employ children under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the department took the situation very seriously
• The Marabastad Retail Market was raided by a multi-departmental team, 20 people were arrested and the market closed

PRETORIA - The mother of a child who was found working in a shop in Marabastad, Tshwane has been arrested along with the shopkeeper who employed the minor.

The department of employment and labour was carrying out routine inspections when they found the child working in the store.

The legal adviser to the department, Fikiswa Bede, said that the situation was "appalling and unacceptable" especially since the recent international conference aiming at ending child labour was held in South Africa in May.

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It is illegal to employ children under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the department took the situation very seriously according to the Sunday Times.

During the inspections, 20 people were arrested at the Marabastad Retail Market. The department closed the market after it was found to be “dirty, unhealthy and hazardous”.

IOL reported that illegal immigrants and traders allegedly fled when the inspectors arrived at the market.

48 Illegal miners arrested in by Hawks in Limpopo, ongoing stings promised

Earlier, Briefly News reported that the Hawks arrested 48 illegal miners in an extensive sting operation that targeted various mining communities in the Sekhukhune and Waterberg areas of Limpopo. Among those arrested were 38 undocumented immigrants.

The zama zamas were arrested in mining communities Apel, Atok and Northam. The sting operation also led to the seizure of mining equipment, including heavy-duty vehicles.

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Community members applauded the authorities' efforts but have requested that law enforcement deploy more resources to eradicate illegal mining in the affected areas.

According to SABC News, illegal miners have discovered ways to evade police and return to the mineshafts regardless of the arrests. Some residents believe that the authorities and the illegal miners are in cahoots.

Source: Briefly News