PRESS STATEMENT
3 DECEMBER 2014

Last night the Commercial Stevedoring Agricultural & Allied Workers Union(CSAAWU) was invited by farmworkers to address a meeting at their homes, after hours, on Eilandia farm in Le Chasseur. Before the meeting, the farmer, Migo Viljoen, warned that he will never allow CSAAWU and Assistant General Secretary, Karel Swart, onto the farm. After 5 minutes of addressing the workers, the farmer arrived at the worker’s house. He was rude to workers and tried to intimidate CSAAWU Assistant General Secretary. CSAAWU remained firm that workers have the right to invite visitors to their homes after work hours. 5 minutes later the farmer returned and warned that Karel Swart that he had 5 minutes to get off the farm. In order to prevent conflict at this point, Karel Swart left the farm. Soon after he left, workers reported that the police arrived on the farm at the behest of the farmer in order to remove Karel Swart from the farm. Thereafter the farmer approached the worker leader, Gerald Slingers, accused him of creating chaos, bringing the union onto the farm, and slapped his face and choked him until he nearly passed out.

CSAAWU condemns this gross violation of human rights and the rights of farmworkers to freedom of association. Karel Swart says, “I am really fearing for my safety on the farms. Wherever I go I am confronted by trespassing regulations and sometimes I am threatened, even on WIETA farms. It is becoming more and more difficult for the union to speak with workers.”

CSAAWU has assisted Gerald Slingers in opening a criminal case against the farmer at the Robertson Police Station and will approach the Equality Court. CSAAWU has advised the worker not to return to work for fear of his safety. CSAAWU seriously questions the role of WIETA in ensuring a culture of human rights on the farms when accredited farms continue with grave violations of human rights. This is not an isolated incident but an ongoing trend to deny freedom of association and ensure that farmworker unions cannot grow. With unionization rates below 5%, the situation remains dire for farmworkers in South Africa.

For more information contact: 081 729 7111C