Image: Screenshot of Juliet confronting one of the owners of the factories during the Newcastle factory raid.
During the month of February 2026 Juliet Basson, a Member of Parliament for the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and a member of Parliament’s Portfolio Committees for Tourism, Social Development, and Employment and Labour, brought national attention to illegal clothing factories operating in Newcastle through a series of viral live videos.
"This is the stuff we see in movies" she said out of disbelief during her live video.
A total of 11 factories were reportedly raided, with each site allegedly employing hundreds of workers, including men, women, and children
Image: Inside a Newcastle clothing factory during an official inspection.
The operation was conducted as a joint effort involving Immigration officials, the Department of Home Affairs, the local Police, and the Departments of Health and Employment and Labour.
Image: Inside workers’ living quarters at a Newcastle factory.
Basson questioned how such a large number of factories could be established and operate without valid permits, certificates, or documentation.
She also highlighted living conditions inside the facilities, alleging that as many as 30 people shared a single room, with strong odours, and unhygienic surroundings.
Further allegations included workers being paid as little as R8 an hour, working shifts of up to 15 hours a day, with claims that children as young as 16 years old were also subject to work in hazardous working conditions with little to no ventilation, and a lack of compliance with labour and occupational safety regulations.
Image: Clothing tags and documentation linked to major South African retailers discovered during inspections at Newcastle clothing factories.
To Basson’s surprise, after entering additional factories, Basson revealed that tags from major South African retail chains — including Jet, Mr Price, Pick n Pay, and Ackermans — were allegedly found on clothing and order forms manufactured inside these facilities. Investigations into these links have reportedly already begun.
Facebook Live video posted by Juliet Basson
The raid has raised serious underlying concerns about labour exploitation, child labour, and regulatory failures, highlighting the harsh realities faced by many workers in South Africa’s informal and illegal manufacturing sectors.