Last Friday, the enraged employees, led by Saccawu (the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union) embarked on a protest march and handed over their memorandum of demands. In addition to the sacking, they are calling for other significant changes at the bakery. They say their working conditions have deteriorated since the consultant came on board.

According to Themba Khumalo, the local Saccawu official, the consultant was appointed after the passing of the owner, Klaas Turkstra, last February. He says the well-known bakery has been a part of Potchefstroom for more than 80 years and the workers have always been happy. Old man Turkstra’s passing has left a huge void, he adds. He describes the new labour consultant as ‘arrogant’ and a ‘racist’ and accuses him of not complying with the basic conditions of employment act.

In a memorandum handed to the Turkstra Bakery owner, Gerhard Turkstra, Lebohang Masakale, the regional secretary of Saccawu says four workers were unfairly dismissed and black workers may not speak their home languages among themselves. In addition, the workers are victimised and addressed in an insulting and derogatory manner.

Another grievance was the lack of safe and affordable transport in the early hours of the morning when they are expected to report for duty. ‘Provision should be made for safe transport for all the workers who have to leave their homes at 03:30 to 04:00 and be at work by 05:00,’ said Masakale.

‘We demand that the bakery complies with the occupational health and safety act provisions and reinstates the four workers. We also want disciplinary action to be taken against the white workers who harass, victimise and discriminate against black workers in the workplace,’ he said.

According to Masakale, senior positions are only reserved for white employees whom, he claims, are promoted after only a few months while there are workers who have been there for ten to fifteen years.

‘Give the employees an opportunity to apply for positions within the company. If there are no changes in this place, we will call the labour department to come and inspect this place,’ he demanded.

Turkstra (Jnr) was given 14 days to respond positively to the memorandum. When he addressed the crowd, one of the employees shouted ‘we love you!’

In his address, Gerhard said the memorandum was well prepared. ‘I will try to find a peaceful solution’, he promised.

When commenting on the protest march that took place at Turkstra, Gerhard Turkstra said the people have a right to take part in a march.

‘However, it is sad that it had to go as far as a march to submit all these allegations to me in the form of a memorandum.

‘So far, all the allegations are ungrounded but, because it is important to us, we want to find a peaceful solution. I will investigate all of them thoroughly. We will reply to the union in writing to see if we can move forward. I hope we find a peaceful solution in the end.

‘About the changes that they want in the workplace, we will put all the cards on the table and try and resolve this. The allegation that the labour consultant is racist is also ungrounded but I will investigate.

‘The dismissal of the four people is still an ongoing process and the matter is being handled by the CCMA. All legal procedures were followed in handling the dismissal,’ he said.