Mandeni Blitz Exposes Child Labour

29 Oct 2025
A Wake-Up Call for Compliance and Compassion

In a late-night operation dubbed the “Dusk of Night” blitz, the Department of Employment and Labour, alongside SAPS and Home Affairs, raided two textile factories in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal. The results were chilling: 47 undocumented workers arrested, two employers detained, and a 14-year-old child found working under illegal conditions.

This wasn’t just a labour violation - it was a mirror held up to the cracks in our current social systems.
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🧒 Children Can Work - But Not Like This

South African law does allow children to earn income under specific conditions. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets clear boundaries:

  • Minimum age for employment is 15, unless part of approved training or artistic work.
  • No child may perform work that is exploitative, hazardous, or interferes with education.
  • Night shifts, exposure to dangerous machinery, or excessive hours are strictly prohibited.

The Mandeni case violated all of these. The child was found in a factory with live electrical wiring, 12-hour night shifts, and no protective oversight. 



  
💡 Why Does Child Labour Persist?

The answer isn’t just criminality - it’s desperation. Child labour often emerges from:

This isn’t just a labour issue - it’s a systemic failure. And it demands a systemic response. 

 
🛠️ What Needs to Change?

  • Stronger enforcement: Blitzes like Mandeni must become routine, not rare.
  • Transparent supply chains: Retailers sourcing from exploitative factories must be held accountable.
  • School dignity: Feeding programs, safe infrastructure, and community support must be prioritised.
  • Empowerment over punishment: Families need pathways out of poverty, not just fines and arrests.

🕊️ Dignity Is Non-Negotiable

Child labour isn’t just illegal - it’s a betrayal of our collective promise to protect the vulnerable. The Mandeni blitz reminds us that dignity must be designed into every system: from factories to classrooms, from payslips to policy.

Let’s not just condemn child labour. Let’s dismantle the current conditions that make it seem like the only option. 
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