11/09/2025
Convict’s Daughter Alleges Trafficking Mastermind Still at Large
Johannesburg – September 10, 2025
The daughter of one of seven Chinese nationals sentenced to 20 years in prison for human trafficking has claimed that the true mastermind behind the operation remains at large.
On Wednesday, the Gauteng High Court handed down heavy sentences to the group, including 64-year-old Dai Junying, who was described in court as a key figure in the trafficking ring uncovered during a 2019 raid in Village Deep, Johannesburg.
But immediately after sentencing, Dai’s daughter, Nancy Xiao, caused a stir outside the courtroom by loudly protesting her mother’s conviction. She insisted her mother, who is wheelchair-bound and had been in South Africa for just three months before her arrest, was innocent and being used as a scapegoat.
According to Nancy, the convicted group acted out of fear and were merely carrying out orders for a figure she described as the “Big Boss” — a powerful, well-connected man with links to organised crime and fi****ms. She alleged that he operates illicit businesses in Johannesburg, particularly in the suburb of Bruma, and even showed reporters a blurred photo on her phone of the alleged mastermind. She further claimed he was connected to a storefront known as “China Shield.”
Nancy argued her mother was too frail and inexperienced to have orchestrated such crimes and accused authorities of lying about the true ownership of the illegal factory raided six years ago. “My mother is old, sick, and innocent. They know who is really behind this, but they are still free,” she told reporters.
Her claims extended beyond the case, with allegations that other commercial hubs, including Johannesburg’s China Mall, continue to harbor undocumented and exploited workers — suggesting that trafficking networks in South Africa’s Chinese community may be larger than authorities have acknowledged.
The Hawks confirmed on Wednesday night that they have taken note of Nancy’s allegations and are in contact with her. “We will investigate the information provided,” a spokesperson said, but declined to provide further details.
The sentencing was hailed by anti-trafficking groups as a major victory in the fight against human exploitation. However, Nancy’s explosive claims have now cast new light on the case, raising questions about whether the real architects of the trafficking operation are still at large.
