The owner of a stake-manufacturing farm in Kiepersol and his wife were woken up by the panic-stricken screams that their stock of wood was burning. This happened in the early morning hours of September 27. Larry Ireland and his wife, Marlet had to rush to the aid of their foreman, who was trying to put out the fire before it spread to their factory.
This occurred in the midst of a strike by the farm workers, who downed tools to demand a wage increase and 13th cheque. Operations on Tartan Farm came to a standstill on September 17 and despite negotiations, Ireland and the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) failed to reach an agreement. A Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) certificate of unresolved dispute was then issued. Protesters danced and sang in front of the factory, sat under the trees with their banners and even stacked tyres and rubble in the road during the strike.
Ireland and his foreman, who is not a member of Fawu, couldn’t salvage any of the stock that was set alight, resulting in a loss of about R120 000. Ireland opened a case of arson at the Hazyview Police Station.
To prevent further damage to the equipment, the factory was shut down and machinery moved. Ireland also decided to sell the farm.
Two days afterwards, the provincial representative of the union, Mr Sam Dlamini, visited the farm demanding that workers be paid their dues for September, as well as severance packages. The matter had, however, already been turned over to Ireland’s attorney.
“The staff have already received all funds due to them for September and outstanding packages will only be settled after the farm has been sold,” he commented.
