Motlanthe calls for calm from farm workers

Kgalema Motlanthe (Image: GCIS)

According to the national broadcaster, Motlanthe said it was in everyone's best interest that a resolution be found to the problems between the two sides.

He was addressing the farming community in De Doorns in the Western Cape.

Farming towns across the province came to a standstill between last November and February during a protest by workers over poor wages and living conditions.

The protests started with grape harvesters in De Doorns, who were calling for wages of R150 a day. Most earned between R69 and R75 a day.

The protests led to Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant increasing the daily minimum wage for farm workers to R105, after input by farmers and workers.

According to the SABC, farm workers in the area said the increase had made little difference.

General secretary of the Black Association of the Wine and Spirit Industry (Bawsi) and The Black Allied Workers Union of SA (Bawusa), Nosey Pieterse who led the protest said the worsening situation was partly due to the farmers now requesting that workers pay rent on farms.

He said that if government did not intervene another protest would be inevitable.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge