Illegal workers get jobs while locals go without

MAYOR LASHES OUT

- THOBEKA NGEMA

A KWAZULU-Natal mayor has lashed out at firms employing undocumented foreign nationals while locals are sitting jobless at home.

Inkosi Langalibalele mayor Mduduzi Myeza said the municipality launched a campaign to inspect all firms in Estcourt (Mtshezi) to establish whether any were employing undocumented immigrants.

"We raided these firms unexpectedly at noon, and all I can say is that I am very disappointed that several firms are employing undocumented immigrants," Myeza said on Thursday.

He said at the former Masonite factory, they arrested about 10 such individuals.

At a company where building blocks were being made, they arrested more than six undocumented workers.

Some fled when they saw the police.