FARM WORKERS ARE HUMAN TOO
Since 1994 the ANC has scored many successes in bringing changes in improving the standard of living of many South Africans, particularly the historically disadvantaged. These qualitative changes have been premised on the ANC's mission of creating a society based on human values, where humanity will not be determined on the basis of race, colour, gender or social status.
Amongst the changes brought about by the democratic government are labour laws that seek to protect workers from flagrant abuse by employers, which was a cardinal feature of the apartheid driven by the sole purpose of profit maximization at the expense of humanity.
However, in spite of successes scored there are still resilient fault lines, which put to bare the degrading legacy of century-long apartheid colonialism. While these fault lines find expression across the spectrum, they remain rife for farm workers who continue to be subjected to inhuman conditions.
The Agriculture industry remains largely in the hands of direct beneficiaries of apartheid and are driven by nothing else except profit maximisation. The experiences of the series of the strikes in De Doorns, Western Cape early this year activated the historically entrenched antagonism and frustration most farm workers have because of the inhumane manner in which they are treated by their employers.
It stands to reason that this deep-seated anger and frustration that most farm workers have is mainly informed by the awful wages, unscrupulous living conditions and dangerous working environment. In spite of the minimum wage as set by the Sectoral Determination, most farm workers still earn far less. Their wages are determined not to uplift the standard of living or upliftment in terms of the social ladder, but to ensure that they get enough energy to wake up the following day and produce more for farm owners.
The farm workers continue to be subjected to dangerous working conditions in complete disregard of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. To many farm owners, farm workers remain objects available at their disposal to ensure cheap labour for profit maximisation. Farm workers remains the most casualized of all. They work arbitrary hours under extreme unfavourable conditions, which in most cases affect their health. When they pass on, some farmers refuse to give place to be buried on.
Insofar as living conditions, farm workers and their families are treated no different from animals. They continue to be subjected to the escalating incidents of threats, killings, racism and humiliation at the hands of farm owners. It is still common to have reports of workers beaten to death by farmer owners. Families of these workers are also not immune from this humiliation. It should be noted that farm workers should also enjoy equal rights just like all other employees. It is sad that many of them don't enjoy even the most basic human rights like having a decent accommodation, access to clean water, education, health facilities, electricity and ablution facilities, amongst other things.
It is important to note that these harsh conditions that characterize the daily living conditions of farm workers are not necessarily because of so-called government failures. Farms belong to, in both classical and literal sense, a private sector category where government has limited powers to intervene. The nature of employment is that of a private owner and a worker. The underlying principle in a private sector is that of profit maximisation at all costs.
These realities put to bare the need for the private sector to cooperate and work with government in improving the lives of the people. This cooperation and partnership will even enable to government to roll out basic services to the people in farms without hindrances brought about the fact that farms are private properties. On the same token, farm workers need to respect and observe labour laws as put to place by the people's government.
In spite of the current conditions, the ANC and its government will not relent in fighting for better wages, better working standards and better living conditions for all farmer workers. We say farm workers are also human and must be accorded treatment befitting to any other human being.
It is against this background that the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal will embark on a provincial-wide campaign to highlight the plight of the workers.
Sihle Zikalala is ANC KZN Provincial Secretary
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