Afrikaner ‘refugees' are opportunists: Women on Farms Project says farm workers are the victims in South Africa
Image: SAUL LOEB / AFP
As the first group of 49 South Africans settle in the United States after they were invited by President Donald Trump to apply for refugee status, an organisation representing farm workers in the Western Cape said the 'refugees' are opportunists.
On Monday morning, IOL reported that a chartered plane carrying 49 South African Afrikaners departed for the United States on Sunday night under Trump's offer for the 'discriminated' South African individuals and families to relocate.
The first batch of Afrikaner refugees left OR Tambo International Airport on a flight operated by the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based charter company Omni Air International, and are expected to land in Washington on Monday evening.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Denile Samuel, Women on Farms Project's labour coordinator said while the Afrikaners are being relocated to the United States, the plight of farm workers in South Africa remains neglected. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
'My sense about that (issue) is, the real people who are marginalised, the real people who are not heard and not seen are farm workers. They are the ones that need to complain, not white Afrikaners,' Samuel told the television news channel.
'They are opportunists, that is what they are.'
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She said farm workers in South Africa are neglected, and the matter does not receive the attention it deserves.
'Of course they are (neglected). For years, they have been neglected, they are still neglected. They are the voiceless.'
Members of Women on Farms Project marched to the Department of Labour and Employment offices in the Western Cape, calling for improved working and better living conditions for farm workers.
Image: Supplied/Women on Farms Project
On Monday, members of Women on Farms Project marched to the Department of Labour and Employment offices in the Western Cape, where they handed over a memorandum of demands, calling for improved working and better living conditions for farm workers.
IOL has seen the memorandum of demands directed at Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth; chief director for provincial operations in Western Cape, Mawele Ntamo; provincial chief inspector in Western Cape, David Esau, and Dr Iqram Bux, senior manager of medical services, Compensation Fund in the province.
'In August 2024, Mr Ntamo, chief director of operations in the Western Cape, provincial head of the Department of Employment and Labour, announced on a public platform that Minister Meth would be visiting and engaging with farm workers in October or November 2024; this did not happen, neither were farm workers informed of when she would visit,' the memorandum stated.
'Since her appointment, Women on Farms Project has sent several requests to Minister Meth through her private secretary and director of communications, to engage with farm workers around widespread labour rights violations on commercial farms. These invitations have never even been acknowledged by the minister and her department.'
Denile Samuel, Labour Coordinator of Women on Farms Project
Image: Supplied
In the memorandum, the 'frustrated' women farm workers and dwellers are requesting an engagement with Meth.
The memorandum said it sought to also highlight the ongoing failure of the Department of Employment and Labour to uphold its mandate to enforce labour laws, conduct effective inspections, and respond timeously to urgent labour rights violations on farms.
Among other demands, the women farm workers are seeking acknowledgement and a response to their memorandum by May 20. They are also demanding an engagement with Meth, to discuss issues pertaining to the labour rights of farm workers.
Farmworkers Women farm workers and dwellers march to Philagro's office in Somerset West to hand over a memorandum demanding a complete and immediate end to the production, export and use of cyanamide/Dormex for agricultural purposes amid serious health concerns.
Image: Supplied
Earlier this week, IOL reported that Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has yet to disclose how his office would deal with increasing calls for a complete and immediate end to the production, export and use of cyanamide/Dormex for agricultural purposes, amid serious health risks to farmworkers.
Cyanamide, a Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP), according to Women on Farms Project, has lost its approval in the European Union since 2008, but is still produced by Alzchem in Germany from where it is exported to countries in the global South, including South Africa.
In South Africa, cyanamide is distributed by Philagro on behalf of Alzchem, according to Women on Farms Project.
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