More Farmworkers Killed in Another Accident

On behalf of the Department of Agriculture and the Government of the Western Cape, I would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the families and next of kin of the farm workers who were killed and injured in the accident near De Doorns last night.

Whilst attending the memorial service, at Piketberg last night, for the victims of the tragic bus accident that took place near Piketberg over the weekend, I received the shocking news of the accident, which involved farm workers in the Hexvally area. I rushed to the Eben Donges Hospital straight after the service to find a very tragic scene where about 8 ambulances were lined up at the Eben Donges Hospital in Worcester with injured farm workers who were waiting to be admitted to the hospital. It is shocking to think that we have lost yet another group of farm workers in an accident whilst they were travelling on a open truck which did not meet with the required regulations with regards to the transport of people on an open truck. It is understood that there were about 70 people standing on the truck, which is totally unacceptable.

The loss of lives is a loss not only to the families, but to the whole agricultural community and we mourn their death. Although many farmers comply with the regulations regarding the transport of workers to and from their place of work, there are incidences like this, which confirms a total disregard for the lives and the circumstances under which farm workers often have to live and work.

I am very concerned about the application of the law and the policing by traffic officials if they cannot pick up and identify violations like these. A year after the tragic death of many farm workers in the Faure train disaster, it seems that no progress has been made on the control and monitoring of the transportation of workers to and from their place of work.

I will engage with my colleagues in the Cabinet on the implementation of more stringent measures to protect the lives of farm workers who have to travel under these conditions. Although I have the full support of organized Agriculture and most of the farmers, it is necessary to meet yet again to discuss the transgression of the law with regard to the transportation of farm workers by both farmers and contractors who transport farm workers in any way. I will this morning engage with my department to set up a conference with all the role-players in the agricultural and transport sectors with regard to this matter.

Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson
Ministry of Agriculture: Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 4930
Fax: 021 483 3890
Cell: 084 604 6701
Email: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za

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