VIDEO – Farm attack victim’s grave dug up, desecrated
The family of Pieter Honeyborne, who was killed in a farm attack in 2009, believes that striking Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) workers are responsible for digging up his grave.
AMCU members contracted to Goedehoop Mine have been striking for the past month.
The striking miners are employed by PG Labour Hire & Construction which is situated on the farm Goedehoop, close by the mine.
Farm owner Mr Pieter Honeyborne’s father, Pieter started the company in 1995 and the company has been contracted by Goedehoop Mine since its establishment.
In May 2009 Mr Honeyborne senior was killed during a farm attack after which his wife Bella took over the business and son Pieter took over the cattle farm.
Recently Mr Honeyborne senior’s grave was desecrated and the family believes AMCU members were responsible for digging up the grave.
“Its the most offensive, personal and painful thing anyone can do,” Honeyborne junior told www.mobserver.co.za.
He says that luckily his father had been cremated so there wasn’t any coffin and remains for the evildoers to desecrate.
Only AMCU members in their employment are striking.
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members are still working but the Honeybornes had to relocate around 60 NUM members, their families and all their belongings to places of safety after seven houses were torched.
A Quantum minibus belonging to PG Labour Hire & Construction was also torched at the company’s workshop on Goedehoop farm. Office personnel has since relocated to Middelburg for their safety.
Mpumalanga AMCU head Mr John Sibiya says the union does not condone violence and intimidation.
He says the police must investigate and take the necessary steps to bring the culprits to book.
“At this point I cannot say yes it was AMCU members, or no it wasn’t, its the job of the police to prove culpability”.
Meanwhile Mr Honeyborne has moved more than 3000 heads of cattle to safety in Amersfoort.
