Pretoria - Traders at Marabastad Retail Market remained without an income for a second consecutive day yesterday after government inspectors raided the facility and arrested 20 people in the process.
The market was closed down by inspectors from the Department of Employment and Labour on Monday for being “dirty, unhealthy and hazardous”.
The traders who were not aware were forced to turn back yesterday. It is understood management was trying to sort out compliance issues that led to the raid and subsequent closure. However, the Pretoria News was unable to get comment from the management by late yesterday.
Spokesperson for the Department of Employment and Labour, Teboho Thejane, said traders and illegal immigrants ran for cover as joint multi-departmental inspectors arrived at the market.
The operation was led by the Department of Employment and Labour in partnership with the SAPS and the Department of Home Affairs’ Immigration Unit.
It was intended to check on compliance with labour laws, compliance with immigration legislation and also deal with criminality.
Thejane said: “More than 20 people were arrested for being illegal immigrants, employing illegal immigrants, and employers who obstructed the inspectors from conducting their duties.”
It was illegal for an employer to interfere with the inspector when on duty, Thejane said.
“The inspectors also visited the Oriental Retail Complex and other businesses. Two retail stores were shut down for failure to comply with occupational health and safety laws.”
In terms of an inspector’s report, the market has been shut down because conditions threaten, or are likely to threaten, the health and/or safety of persons in terms of Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Traders at the market have been prohibited from using the building due to lack of firefighting equipment at strategic locations, operating in premises with open electrical wires, and non-compliance with electrical installation which posed risk of electrocution and fire.
The prohibition notice will be removed once the owners of the building comply with the notice.
The Department of Employment and Labour’s advocate, Fikiswa Bede, said the inspectors were beginning to have an impact across the country.
Bede said Marabastad was becoming a high-risk area for non-compliance with labour legislation and needed sustained attention. She said she was concerned that many traders in the area seemed oblivious to issues of compliance.
“It is either people here are ignorant of the law or they are just carrying on with their business without regards of consequences," she said.
An immigration official during the operation said there was a need for follow-up inspections.
Pretoria News