By Teboho Moloi
QWAQWA – A 47-year old factory owner from the Phuthaditjhaba industrial area is expected to appear before the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court after he was arrested for being in possession of fabric used to manufacture South African National Defence Force (SANDF) uniforms.
The arrest was made on Wednesday, 26 November, during a multi-stakeholder operation involving the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, and officials from various government departments.
Hawks provincial spokesperson Lt-Col Zweli Mohobeleli said the National Bargaining Council (NBC) for the Clothing Manufacturing Industry had flagged six factories for suspected non-compliance, prompting further investigation.
“The suspicion was later confirmed by Crime Intelligence, necessitating an operation involving various stakeholders,” Mohobeleli said.
The factory owner Is facing charges of illegal possession of suspected stolen property. A 26-year-old man was also arrested for being in the country illegally.
During the operation, officials also issued several fines and compliance notices for alleged contraventions of multiple laws, including the Immigration Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, National Minimum Wage Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Companies Act, Customs and Excise Act, Co-operatives Act and the Consumer Protection Act.
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lt-Gen Baile Motswenyane and Hawks Provincial Head Maj-Gen Mokgadi Bokaba applauded the coordinated effort, reiterating the collective commitment of government stakeholders to clamp down on crime in the province.
