KwaZulu-Natal police have rescued 14 workers from a mask factory in Glen Anil, Durban, where they were allegedly locked up since Monday last week.
"No amount of words could ever describe my anger following a shocking report I have just received from officials I assigned to investigate a complaint I received early this morning," said Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube .
"Inspectors from the department's Consumer Protection Unit, who are investigating complaints of the violation of consumer rights and price hikes, have saved more than 14 workers who were subjected to inhumane conditions," Dube-Ncube said in a statement. .
It is alleged that the owners of Chinese company kept the workers locked in the factory and forced them to manufacture hundreds of masks to meet the demand caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak.