COSATU statement on the eviction and victimisation of farm workers for voting for ANC
16 May 2019
The Congress of South African Trade Unions is deeply angered and strongly condemns the abuse of farm workers by farmers over their participation in the elections. The recent evictions of farmworkers from Schikfontein Farm in Heidelberg, Gauteng for voting for the ANC is criminal. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident because many farmworkers have been reporting incidents of victimisation and intimidation by their employers over the duration of May Day and Elections period.
This Schikfontein story is a reminder that there is still modern day slavery thriving on our farms. Not only do workers experience, extreme exploitation, they also suffer from physical and psychological abuse in the workplace. Their precarious working and living conditions can be equated to modern-day slavery, a step above the grave.
COSATU has been lamenting about the reprehensible treatment of South African farm workers for a long time with no discernible action from an organization like the Human Right Commission, SAPS or the Department of Labour.
Farm workers have been let down badly by the system. Law enforcement agencies, government departments and our democratic institutions like the Human Rights Commission have failed to adequately investigate discrimination, labour and human rights violations faced by farm workers. The government inspectors and some police officers are colluding with the farmers against these farm workers.