ARRESTS
Spar says its workers had papers after police arrest 63
The Spar retail group has responded to allegations by the Department of Home Affairs, saying that it does not wittingly employ undocumented migrants
Retailer Spar has denied wittingly hiring undocumented migrants as alleged by the Department of Home Affairs, which is driving a crackdown. Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba vowed last week that the department would take action against businesses employing undocumented migrants, saying this opened the way to xenophobic tension especially in communities where residents were competing for scarce resources. The minister said the practice also left migrants vulnerable to exploitation. The authorities had arrested 63 migrants working at three Spar branches, said Gigaba. Spar store managers at the retailer’s Montana, Doornpoort and Zambezi outlets would be charged. Spar spokeswoman Stephanie Leclercq on Friday confirmed the arrest of 63 staff members. "These people have been detained, but more than 40 have returned to work as they have been released after showing their valid documentation to the authorities," she said. " The remainder of them seem to have documentation, but it seems to ...
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