Hlabisa farm workers raise their complaints
KZN Premier Willies Mchunu says the provincial government will deploy all its resources to assist farm workers in Hlabisa after complaints that they are prevented from going to health care facilities.
This was reported by a representative of farm workers at a War Room meeting during the Operation Sukuma Sakhe visit by the provincial executive to Hlabisa in the uMkhanyakude District on Tuesday.
‘It is claimed that some employers deny workers time off work so they can go to the clinic to collect their ARV medication.
‘We are very concerned by these reports because people on chronic medication should not default on their treatment. This causes a host of other problems with the management of their health condition,’ said Mchunu.
He said a recommendation has been made for a multi-discipline approach to resolve the impasse between farmers and farm workers over this issue, which will involve the provincial Department of Health, the Department of Labour and local and district municipalities.
Other complaints by residents in all districts visited related to water and electricity cut-offs, lack of road infrastructure and housing.
Operation Sukuma Sakhe provides a platform for government and communities to engage with one another on matters of service delivery.