Death of farm worker to be probed

AN ATLANTIS family is calling on the Department of Labour to investigate the death of a farmworker.

On October 7 tragedy struck for the family of the deceased, Ronaldo Keyster, 22, of Atlantis, who had become a father to a baby girl seven months before.

Keyster worked alongside his mother, Cathleen Keyster, and his cousin, Randall Keyster, on the Klipfontein Farm, in Darling, under the ownership of AF Kirsten.

The Weekend Argus contacted Kirsten’s office several times for comment this week and his secretary promised feedback.

“He is on the farm all day and I did give him the message, and I will give him the message again,” she said.

The foreman, whose name cannot be revealed publicly because he was the driver, referred the Weekend Argus to their offices, before putting the phone down.

David Esau, provincial chief inspector for the Department of Labour, said Klipfontein Farm had not reported the incident to its offices.

He said an investigation would follow immediately, after the Weekend Argus made a query regarding the incident.

The SAPS have confirmed that they were investigating a case of culpable homicide.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will also investigate the matter.

SAHRC commissioner Chris Nissen said: “When (the driver) was made aware even by the banging and when you go over a hump, you can feel you are going over something, and this person was made aware.

“We need to bring it under the attention of the South African Police and I will be at Darling police station tomorrow morning (Saturday) to find out what is happening and what they have done.”

Nissen added: “They must investigate this matter, even if a person dies in a car accident, the person is charged with culpable homicide.”

Randall Keyster witnessed the incident and said his cousin died in his arms.

“Ronaldo was sitting on the ledge of the truck and he had a lemon in his hand, which he was busy placing into his pocket. We had just come from another farm where there were lemons, and we were then at Klipfontein Farm,” he said.

“I ran back on the truck and then the truck gave a tug and that is when Ronaldo fell off, landing underneath, and he (the foreman) drove over Ronaldo.

“He stopped several metres away from where Ronaldo was. When I got to Ronaldo, he was still alive for about five minutes in my arms, and then he died,” said Randall.

Cathleen said she was devastated by what happened, and was seeking justice and compensation.

“His body was taken off the farm and transported to Malmesbury mortuary, where I had to identify him the following day,” she said.

“I am still working on the farm and we want to take this matter forward because nothing has been discussed with us. He (the employer) contributed R18 000 to the funeral, after my sister made a request.”

Armed with payslips and Keyster’s death certificate, his aunt Erica Ohlson said she visited Kirsten’s offices after the incident, to request that he contribute to the funeral, and that workman’s compensation was never mentioned, nor UIF benefits for death, even though the company had deducted those funds, according to his payslip.

“I left the paperwork, which showed the quotation of R18 000 for the funeral, and I asked how much he could contribute,” Ohlson said.

“He had a negative attitude, but later paid for the funeral. I told him that my nephew had died on that farm and that he had a baby,” she said.

“We have received no paperwork regarding workman’s compensation or any mention of it, or any acknowledgement by the Department of Labour. They didn’t even offer their condolences to my sister, and the people who were on the truck, on the day the incident happened, had to continue working despite being traumatised,” said Ohlson.

Councillor Barbara Rass said: “This incident just opened up a whole can of worms and, if this is not receiving attention because a life has been lost, we will be facing more such incidents that can be prevented if each state department does what is necessary.”

Community activist Dawood Hendricks, of the Atlantis Black Business Alliance, said: “There needs to be a full investigation on that farm and, if there is a union, the union needs to be brought to justice,” he said.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the incident. “At the time of the accident, the deceased was transported, with 16 seasonal workers, to the grape vines, on a very bumpy gravel road.”