Hex River quiet as strike ends
But stonings, protests continue elsewhere
JUST hours before the Western Cape farm workers’ strike was about to hit, farmers in the Hex River Valley gathered at their gates to ask God for help. Their prayers, it seems, were heard.
The area was calm yesterday, in stark contrast to the previous strike where workers blocked the N1 highway in De Doorns with stones and burning tyres.
But while it was initially thought farms had escaped violence in the morning, all hell broke loose in areas like Robertson, Rawsonville and Citrusdal.
Late yesterday afternoon in Rawsonville a boy was seen running into the vineyards before starting a fire. He then joined a mob of about 10 who pelted two farmers – one in a bakkie, the other on a quad bike – with stones.
After police put out the fire, another farmer and his son rushed to them asking for help. The son had been on his motorcycle in the vineyards when he, too, was stoned.
“Where are the keys to the bike,” the officer asked.
“It’s still in the bike. I had to leave it there and run away when they started throwing stones at me,” the son said.
At about the same time, trade union federation Cosatu called off the strike.
Cosatu had accepted an agreement put forward by Agri-SA whereby the farmers’ union committed to negotiations on individual farms and that they would continue talks on the R150 wage increase demand.
“Negotiations will also include a profit-sharing scheme, given the huge amount of money made by farmers as a result of exchange rate variations,” it said.
The agreement, according to Cosatu, also means that employees will return to work and can join any union of their choice.
However, should the parties not come to an agreement by January 9, workers will take action.
“This agreement represents a huge victory for farm workers as it sets the basis for new regulations between themselves and farmers to build a more fair and just agricultural environment,” Cosatu said.
Meanwhile, Women on Farms Project programme coordinator Carmen Louw reported that four people were shot in Robertson yesterday morning and about 20 people arrested in Citrusdal.
However, police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut would only confirm that a teenager had been shot in Robertson.
“A 17-year-old reported an attempted murder case because he was shot with a rubber bullet earlier by police. The investigation is conducted by the IPID [Independent Police Investigative Directorate], and they are in a better position to comment on the matter,” Traut said.
He also confirmed that people were arrested in Citrusdal for public violence but could not disclose the number of arrests.
It was rumoured that seven armed right wingers had been arrested by police in Worcester but Traut could not comment on their identity or affiliation. He said the seven were arrested at a roadblock on the N1 in Worcester.
“A 308 Mauser and 60 rounds of ammunition were found in the vehicle and no one could produce a valid licence for the possession thereof,” Traut said.
“The suspects, aged between 33 and 66, are due in court once they have been charged.”