Farmworkers set truck alight

Farmworkers set truck alight

November 11 2013 at 05:38pm
By SAPA

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS
Farmworkers set a truck alight in Wellington. File photo: Henk Kruger
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Cape Town - Farmworkers set a truck alight in Wellington on Monday, Western Cape police said.

Captain Frederick van Wyk said about 120 workers at Sandrivier estate prevented other workers from entering the premises and burned the vehicle and a piece of field on the farm.

No orchards were damaged.

He said police were deployed to prevent more damage and the workers were escorted to an open field.

Twelve people were arrested on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.

No injuries were reported and no shots were fired.

Agri Wes-Cape spokeswoman Porchia Adams said the workers were seasonal and had been taking part in an unprotected strike on the farms of the JC Le Roux group, in Paarl, Wellington and Piketberg.

Sapa
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Farm workers face off over transport deductions

South Africa Monday 11 November 2013 - 8:21pm

November 11 - About 200 striking farmworkers in Wellington watched as some of their colleagues set fire to fields and a truck on Monday. eNCA
WESTERN CAPE - Some farm workers in the Western Cape have made good on their threat to continue strike action.

In Wellington, about 200 farm workers continued with theirs strike action, with some setting fire to fields and a truck on Monday.

Police were deployed to prevent more damage and the workers were escorted to an open field.

For us who live in Mbekweni they deduct R75 a week. For people in Malmesbury R100 is deducted every week.

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Twelve people were arrested on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.

However, they had to face about 120 workers who refused to join the strike.

The farm workers are protesting because farmers are taking deductions from their R105 daily wage.

Joel Masike said, "For us who live in Mbekweni they deduct R75 a week. For people in Malmesbury R100 is deducted every week."

But they clashed with non-striking workers, who chased away strikers they say had threatened to burn down a packing shed.

The non-strikers say if production is halted, they don't get paid and their children will go hungry.

Willem Claasen, a farm worker, said, "This community on this farm is sick and tired of these strikes. They do it every year. This is our work. This is our bread and butter."

Farmers say the deductions are to pay for transport.

They say the strikers had signed written agreements that they would either use their own transport to work, or pay to use farm transport.

Stephan Strauss farm manager said, “One of our biggest expenses is transport. And we've tried to look at other ways of getting workers to work, using private bus and taxi companies, but that would be too expensive for workers."

Farmers say labour unions have been canvassing workers to strike since last week.

No injuries were reported and no shots were fired.

Agri Wes-Cape spokeswoman Porchia Adams said, "The workers were seasonal and had been taking part in an unprotected strike on the farms of the JC Le Roux group, in Paarl, Wellington and Piketberg."



-eNCA