‘Farmer beat me for not fetching dogs’
A RICHMOND farmer faces criminal charges after he allegedly assaulted his domestic worker on his farm at midnight on Good Friday.
The domestic worker had refused to fetch the owner’s dogs around midnight when the allegedly intoxicated farmer had just returned from a trip with his family.
The farmer’s name is being withheld as he has yet to appear in court.
Yekisile Madlala, 59, who lives in Byrne Village outside Richmond, suffered back and kidney injuries after the beating, and a kick to the spine.
Recalling the incident, Madlala said it was just after midnight when the farmer told her to fetch his five dogs, which hunt chickens in the neighbourhood. She refused and the farmer responded by manhandling her and kicking her while she was on the floor.
“He was smelling of alcohol and became very rowdy. He woke me up with a barrage of insults calling me a f ****** b***h while instructing me to fetch his dogs. When I refused because I was scared to go out in the dark, he got violent and started beating me.
“My son, who lives with me on the premises, intervened and got punched in the face.”
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said a case is under investigation and the suspect would be arrested once completed.
The Sunday Tribune made several attempts to contact the farmer but he did not respond.
Madlala said the angry farmer could not stop slapping her face while calling her “gogo” although a guest tried to pull him away.
Madlala now lives with her daughter in the village.
She said she had been living on the farm since 1969. The owner arrived in 2011.
This week, when the Sunday Tribune visited, a small crowd of farmworkers had been giving support to Madlala. Many said that they have been victims of abuse too.
Sthembiso Mkhize said the farmer had put jumper cables around his neck when the tractor failed to start.
Zazi Mkhize, 21, said he was attacked when the water pump would not work. Simon Madlala, 53, said he was fired for demanding a coat when forced to work in the rain.
They have not opened cases with the police.
Meanwhile, the ANC ward councillor in the area, Samora Ndlovu, said the farmer withheld service delivery. He accused the farmer of being selfish after he said installing power for his workers would modernise his farm.
“He enjoys a wonderful life with his family while his workers had to fetch wood to cook meals. Even his white neighbours are against this man’s actions. We have never met such resistance with others when delivering services on their farms,” Ndlovu said.