Employers flout labour laws in Rustenburg

By Molaole Montsho

Chris Sithole

Widespread non-compliance with labour legislation has been uncovered among employers in Rustenburg following a joint inspection blitz in the wholesale and retail sector.

The Department of Employment and Labour, supported by other government departments, carried out the operation to enforce key labour laws. On the first day alone, inspectors visited 38 workplaces, assessing compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Unemployment Insurance Act, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, Employment Services Act and the National Minimum Wage Act.

The inspections revealed serious violations. Provincial Chief Inspector Chris Sithole confirmed that 16 contravention notices and 40 compliance orders were issued.

Common offences included failure to comply with electrical regulations, underpayment below the national minimum wage, absence of employment contracts, failure to register as employers, and non-submission of required declarations and earnings returns.

“Non-compliance in Rustenburg is widespread and deeply concerning,” Sithole said. “Despite sustained blitz inspections across multiple sectors throughout 2025, employers continue to disregard labour laws.”

Some employers were also charged with illegally employing undocumented foreign nationals. These individuals were handed over to the Department of Home Affairs for processing under the Immigration Act.

The second day of the blitz saw a further 66 workplaces inspected, with 44 found to be non-compliant. Inspectors raised alarm over persistent violations of the General Safety Regulations, including failure to conduct workplace risk assessments, lack of personal protective equipment, and missing pressure testing reports for compressors, posing serious safety risks to workers.

The blitz formed part of a multi-departmental service delivery campaign within the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality aimed at strengthening compliance and protecting workers’ rights