KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has issued a stern warning to employers who flout labour laws.

Ntuli sent the warning during an inspection at a truck depot near Durban Station, as part of a targeted provincial intervention aimed at enforcing labour laws.

Ntuli led an unannounced inspection following mounting complaints from local truck drivers alleging that some employers are hiring undocumented foreign nationals and paying them exploitative wages, undermining fair labour standards and sidelining local workers in a sector already under economic strain.

The operation coordinated in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs, South African Police Service and local law enforcement, forms part of the Premier’s broader commitment to confronting illegal employment practices.

The Premier also highlighted that over the past two days, more than 135 undocumented individuals were arrested during police enforcement blitzes in Hammarsdale and Chatsworth.

He reiterated that the provincial government is intensifying its crackdown on lawless employers while ensuring that legitimate businesses are supported.

“KwaZulu-Natal must become a province where the rule of law is respected, where fairness governs our labour practices, and where no employer gets away with exploiting desperation,” the Premier said.

The province is also expanding training, support, and placement programmes to ensure that local workers, especially young people, are equipped for sustainable employment. –