No end to ten-week-long farm workers’ protest
Last week, police had to use teargas and rubber bullets to disperse striking workers, who had already been unlawfully dismissed for a second time
KOMATIPOORT – Attempts by Corridor Gazette to obtain Umbhaba Estate’s side of the story regarding allegations levelled against the company by protesting workers, have all failed.
According to the protest leader and shop steward, Mr Dumisani Madonsela, all they wanted was a trade union to be allowed on the farm because they were working under extremely difficult circumstances.
Madonsela told this newspaper that the company had more than 5 000 employees. Most of these workers were not using their identity documents, but their passports.
These documents don’t have work permits, and here in South Africa the law dictates that if you live outside the country, you should have one if you are employed.
He added that they had travelled far, locally and provincially, seeking help for this unresolved issue. Madonsela said, “We have knocked at the door of the Department of Labour, we have been to Malalane and Witbank.”
This protest has been ongoing for 10 weeks since it started in the beginning of November. It has received great support from the local ANC, Cosatu and the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu).
Fawu general secretary, Mr Katishi Masemola, has since called on a boycott on the handling of Umbhaba Estate goods.
Madonsela, however, stated that this would still have no impact on the strike.He said, “Right now, he (the owner) has the power since he can still sell his produce.”
The protesters’ main grievance was wages. According to Madonsela they worked 12 hours a day for 29 days a month, only to earn less than R2 500. According to the gazetted rate for farm workers, they should be working for R120 a day, which should translate to R3 480 a month.
Last week, police had to use teargas and rubber bullets to disperse striking workers, who had already been unlawfully dismissed for a second time.
Twenty-five protesters were arrested on January 5 and nine were apprehended the day before. Of the 25 arrested only
15 appeared in the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court. Ten couldn’t be linked to the incident. All of the accused appeared on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.
The 15 are currently out on bail. At the time of going to print, a heavy police contingent was present outside the farm’s gate.
