Workers allegedly hide in roof as labour inspectors visit braai supplier before Heritage Day

Labour inspectors visited TJ’s Lekka Braai in Blackheath ahead of Heritage Day, raising concerns about worker safety, wage practices, and employment documentation of foreign nationals. During the inspection, some workers fled the premises and sought refuge in roof spaces, while others continued working in areas covered in charcoal dust without proper protective equipment.

The company disputed several allegations. Acting provincial labour department spokesperson Vanessa Cupido stated that inspectors had initially conducted a routine inspection but expanded the operation following their findings. "Some probably alerted them that we were coming. Some of the people are inside the roofs … some are still hiding inside the roofs," she explained.

Acting provincial chief inspector Fezeka Ngalo mentioned that officials had covered escape points prior to entering the premises. Thirty-two individuals were taken for further verification, with Home Affairs tasked to check their fingerprints and work documentation to ensure they were legally authorized to work in South Africa. Authorities emphasized that the verification process was ongoing, and those taken for checks could not be automatically deemed undocumented.

Inspectors noted that workers in the charcoal operation lacked essential protective gear, including masks, gloves, and other PPE. Vanessa Cupido also highlighted the absence of fire marshals, health and safety representatives, and medical surveillance. The rear of the operation was described as heavily dust-covered, with employees potentially emerging from it "black."

Inspectors were investigating possible breaches of occupational-health-and-safety legislation, with the option to issue prohibition notices if immediate danger was identified. Other enforcement measures might be taken, including return inspections and potential prosecution if non-compliance persisted. Concerns were also raised about the workers' payment methods.

Some employees claimed they were compensated based on output rather than hours worked, with one worker stating he earned R70 for packing 100 seven-kilogram bags of wood, regardless of whether he completed 50 or 100 bags. The company's manager refuted several of the concerns, asserting that the business had been inspected previously and had since taken steps to comply with requirements.

He claimed that workers were provided with masks and protective equipment daily and that all foreign employees possessed valid documents, such as passports and asylum statuses. The manager acknowledged that the charcoal section contained dark areas that had not been cleaned that morning but maintained that workers had been issued protective gear.

He also denied allegations of wage violations, stating that the company adhered to the applicable hourly rate. The inspection occurred during a busy period for the business, with plans to dispatch around 120 pallets to Freshmark ahead of the Heritage Day rush.