The New Age reports that the trial of a Limpopo farmer accused of abusing and underpaying 300 Zimbabwean farm workers, whom he allegedly owed more than R1.6m in respect of the past 10 years, was thrown out of court after witnesses failed to show up.  

The 36 witnesses were deported to Zimbabwe at the beginning of the trial late in 2015 because they had no documents, while others were taken off the witness list when they returned to work for the farmer.  The farmer, JT van der Walt, the owner of Johannesburg farm in the Lephalale area, and nine of his managers were charged by the police for the assault and kidnapping of the Zimbabweans.  He was also charged with employing illegal immigrants and labour exploitation.  Limpopo labour spokesperson Lerato Makomene confirmed the case had been dismissed.  “The case was thrown out of court because there were no witnesses.  Our hands are tied as a department without the witnesses,” Makomene indicated.

• Read this report by Mthokozisi Dube in full at SA Labour News

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