Agriculture, land reform and rural development minister, Thoko Didiza has called upon the agricultural sector to prioritise the safe transportation of farm workers.
This minister’s call comes following yet another accident involving farm workers on the R44 before the Durbanville off-ramp en route to Wellington involving almost 80 seasonal farm workers injured in a truck accident on Wednesday in the Western Cape Province.
Didiza said she is concerned that a similar accident occurred when about 40 farmworkers were being transported on a four-tonne truck from Meerlust farm in De Doorns to Worcester via the N1 where a woman was killed.
The minister wants the sector to have an urgent and honest discussion on how to improve the livelihoods and safety of all farm workers.
“Farm workers are an integral part of a successful agricultural sector and therefore their safety and better working conditions should be prioritised,” said Didiza.
She urged all role players, including NGO’s, labour unions, farmers, farm workers and government to urgently put their heads together to find a sustainable solution.
