A Johannesburg inner-city butchery has been shut down after a joint government inspection uncovered a string of labour, health and safety violations, including workers being paid below the national minimum wage, unsafe working conditions and food safety concerns.
Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth, accompanied by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero, led a multi-disciplinary compliance operation in the city centre on Friday as part of a broader government crackdown on businesses flouting labour laws and municipal by-laws.
The inspection team found serious contraventions at Siesta MTN Butchery, prompting labour inspectors to issue several prohibition notices under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Officials identified blocked walkways, exposed electrical distribution boards, inadequate changing facilities for workers and a lack of proper seating, with cashiers reportedly using crates while on duty.
Inspectors also found workers were being paid below the minimum wage and that the employer was not contributing to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), placing the business in breach of labour legislation.
The operation further uncovered health and safety concerns, including workers initially operating without the required personal protective equipment (PPE), meat products being defrosted on the floor and domestic animals, including cats, being kept inside the building.
As a result of the findings and additional breaches of environmental health regulations, the City of Johannesburg ordered the immediate closure of the butchery.
Speaking during the operation, Meth stressed that compliance with South African labour laws was non-negotiable.
“The laws of the Republic are not a nice-to-have. We all have the responsibility to comply with the law. We want businesses to continue operating and contribute to the economy, however they must comply with the laws of the Republic,” she said.
Meth said the department’s inspections were aimed at both enforcement and education, helping employers understand their legal obligations while protecting workers’ rights.
“Our approach is what we call a carrot and stick approach. We empower and educate businesses, identify areas where they need to improve and issue notices where necessary,” she said.
The inspection team also visited Boxer Superstore, where officials engaged management and workers while assessing compliance with labour legislation, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
Addressing concerns about the employment of foreign nationals, Meth urged businesses to make greater use of South Africa’s available workforce, noting that the department maintains a database of more than seven million registered job seekers.
“We are saying to businesses, open up the space for South Africans. But we are not xenophobic. Foreign nationals who are legally in South Africa have the right to be employed. However, people who are in South Africa legally as visitors or students cannot simply take up employment without the necessary legal permission,” she said.
City officials also inspected whether businesses complied with building regulations and possessed approved building plans.
Morero said the city would continue targeting non-compliant businesses while assisting those willing to meet legal requirements.
“This joint operation with the Department of Employment and Labour is part of our ongoing commitment to reclaim and restore order in the Johannesburg inner city. We will not turn a blind eye to businesses that put workers’ safety and dignity at risk, or that operate outside the law,” he said.
