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News24 reports that the unrest in Kirkwood in the Eastern Cape that resulted in the death of a farmworker and caused an estimated R70 million in infrastructure damages, started as a peaceful march that turned violent.
This after farmers angered the marchers by failing to show up on 20 April to accept a memorandum of demands. That is according to Sundays River Valley Municipality manager Sydney Fadi. The municipality granted permission for a peaceful march to the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and residents on the eve of Good Friday. The primary demand was for the 200 farmers in the valley to hike the R23.19 an hour wages to R30 and to cap the employment of foreign nationals and people from other parts of SA at 30%. At the march, Mayor Simphiwe Rune and the local police chief were present to sign and accept the wide-ranging petition, but the farmers were absent. “Things took a turn for the worse during the presentation of the petition. The absence of the farmers created an untenable situation, which led to the violence… What followed the march was an escalation of something unmanageable,” claimed Fadi. On Monday, as the protests entered another week, Benito Moses died in hospital after he was allegedly shot at close range by private security guards hired by valley farmers. In the week-long protest, a farmhouse, orchards, storage facilities with fruit, vehicles, water pipelines and equipment were burnt or vandalised. Police opened 38 cases over the past week, ranging from public violence and malicious damage to property to assault and murder. Earlier this week, the High Court in Gqeberha granted the farmers an interdict preventing further protests. The situation had reportedly died down in the area on Thursday. HeraldLIVE reported that protesters and farmers had reached a 14-day ceasefire deal to find a solution.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malibongwe Dayimani at News24 (subscriber access only)
- Lees ook, TLU eis ingryping ná Sondagsriviervallei-oproer, by Maroela Media
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page