ANA reports that the SA Federation of Trade Union (Saftu) said on Tuesday that at least 123 farmworkers were on strike in Ventersdorp, in the North West, over union recognition and wages.  

“This strike was exacerbated by the arrogance and intransigent behaviour of the bosses by denying farmworkers their basic and fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution,” Puseletso Molise, Saftu’s North West provincial convenor, said.  The workers downed tools at Doornplaat beef farm outside Ventersdorp on 25 August, demanding that their union, namely the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw), be recognised by the employer.  They further wanted the employer to compensate the families of three workers who died on duty.  Farmworkers filled the Ventersdorp municipality chambers during a media briefing and painted a gloomy picture of labour law violations at the farm.

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