Farmers responsible for attacks?
20 November 2009, 15:12
By Xolani Mbanjwa and Bronwynne Jooste
Staff Reporters
Farmers in De Doorns have rejected allegations that they are paying Zimbabwean immigrants lower than the minimum wage and are therefore responsible for the xenophobic attacks that erupted in the region this week.
Yesterday the Hex Table Grapes Association (HTA) - which employs more than 15 000 farmworkers - rebuked Home Affairs Deputy Minister Malusi Gigaba for alleging that farmers' exploitation of the migrants - rather than xenophobia - was the cause of the violent attacks that have seen thousands flee their homes.
Chairman De Villiers Graaff said Gigaba's claims were "dangerous" and said he was using farmers as "scapegoats". He said farmers in the area paid immigrants the R57 daily minimum wage stipulated by law.
Farmworkers claimed this week that the Zimbabweans were being paid R30 a day.
The Zimbabweans were chased out of the Hex River Valley town this week by angry local farm workers who accused them of "stealing their jobs" by offering cheap labour.
Police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse De Doorns residents who destroyed the homes of Zimbabweans on Monday.
Graaff said farmers were now suffering a shortage of labour since more than 2 500 Zimbabwean nationals had been driven from their homes.
He called on the Department of Labour to investigate whether it was true that farmers or labour brokers were exploiting workers.
"To blame us is a smoke-screen and the department is using us as a scapegoat. These allegations are unfounded.
"If these allegations are true, then the department of labour should investigate and bring those involved to book," said Graaff.
He said farmers preferred employing South Africans first and used immigrants as "supplemental" labour.
The association welcomed Gigaba's suggestion that immigrants be organised into unions to protect them from exploitation.
"Zimbabweans are soft targets because they are peaceful people. It's a human tragedy what has happened and, as farmers, we feel sorry for them. It is our duty to look after them," said Graaff.
Gigaba told journalists in Pretoria yesterday that farmers exploited immigrants.
"Farmers pay them in sacks of mealie meal, or, when a person is about to be paid, they fire them and refuse to pay their wages and either report them to immigration officers so that they can be deported or threaten to do that," said Gigaba.
However, he conceded that the department's immigration division was beset with major challenges, including corruption, staff shortages and a massive influx of people from Zimbabwe and other parts of southern Africa.
Meanwhile, the NGO Women on Farms has said farmworkers had "valid concerns" and claimed Zimbabwean farmworkers were the "preferred" option.
The group said the foreign nationals were being exploited by their employers, with most working 12-hour days without valid contracts.
They claim Zimbabweans are often hired before local farmworkers because many knew less about labour laws.
Women on Farms director Fatima Shabodien said many were paid R60 for working 12-hour days, instead of the legal R60 for nine working hours.
"Where is the evidence they have contracts? There is none; this is a clear violation of the law."
Porchia Adams, Agri-Wescape communications manager, said their records showed that farmers paid workers more than the minimum wage.
She said they would look at the ratio between Zimbabwean and local farm workers.
Disaster Management and the Red Cross are continuing to provide aid to the more than 2 500 refugees being housed in temporary shelters since the incident.
Premier Helen Zille also visited the town yesterday, and said the provincial government would not dictate the process.
Staff Reporters
Farmers in De Doorns have rejected allegations that they are paying Zimbabwean immigrants lower than the minimum wage and are therefore responsible for the xenophobic attacks that erupted in the region this week.
Yesterday the Hex Table Grapes Association (HTA) - which employs more than 15 000 farmworkers - rebuked Home Affairs Deputy Minister Malusi Gigaba for alleging that farmers' exploitation of the migrants - rather than xenophobia - was the cause of the violent attacks that have seen thousands flee their homes.
Chairman De Villiers Graaff said Gigaba's claims were "dangerous" and said he was using farmers as "scapegoats". He said farmers in the area paid immigrants the R57 daily minimum wage stipulated by law.
Farmworkers claimed this week that the Zimbabweans were being paid R30 a day.
The Zimbabweans were chased out of the Hex River Valley town this week by angry local farm workers who accused them of "stealing their jobs" by offering cheap labour.
Police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse De Doorns residents who destroyed the homes of Zimbabweans on Monday.
Graaff said farmers were now suffering a shortage of labour since more than 2 500 Zimbabwean nationals had been driven from their homes.
He called on the Department of Labour to investigate whether it was true that farmers or labour brokers were exploiting workers.
"To blame us is a smoke-screen and the department is using us as a scapegoat. These allegations are unfounded.
"If these allegations are true, then the department of labour should investigate and bring those involved to book," said Graaff.
He said farmers preferred employing South Africans first and used immigrants as "supplemental" labour.
The association welcomed Gigaba's suggestion that immigrants be organised into unions to protect them from exploitation.
"Zimbabweans are soft targets because they are peaceful people. It's a human tragedy what has happened and, as farmers, we feel sorry for them. It is our duty to look after them," said Graaff.
Gigaba told journalists in Pretoria yesterday that farmers exploited immigrants.
"Farmers pay them in sacks of mealie meal, or, when a person is about to be paid, they fire them and refuse to pay their wages and either report them to immigration officers so that they can be deported or threaten to do that," said Gigaba.
However, he conceded that the department's immigration division was beset with major challenges, including corruption, staff shortages and a massive influx of people from Zimbabwe and other parts of southern Africa.
Meanwhile, the NGO Women on Farms has said farmworkers had "valid concerns" and claimed Zimbabwean farmworkers were the "preferred" option.
The group said the foreign nationals were being exploited by their employers, with most working 12-hour days without valid contracts.
They claim Zimbabweans are often hired before local farmworkers because many knew less about labour laws.
Women on Farms director Fatima Shabodien said many were paid R60 for working 12-hour days, instead of the legal R60 for nine working hours.
"Where is the evidence they have contracts? There is none; this is a clear violation of the law."
Porchia Adams, Agri-Wescape communications manager, said their records showed that farmers paid workers more than the minimum wage.
She said they would look at the ratio between Zimbabwean and local farm workers.
Disaster Management and the Red Cross are continuing to provide aid to the more than 2 500 refugees being housed in temporary shelters since the incident.
Premier Helen Zille also visited the town yesterday, and said the provincial government would not dictate the process.
- This article was originally published on page 3 of The Cape Argus on November 20, 2009
Pretoria
