A farmworkers’ rights organisation has welcomed the arrest of the farmer who remains in custody after he allegedly ran over his 22-year-old employee with his bakkie over a wage dispute in Calvinia.

The Director of the Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation, Billy Claassen, said the 40-year-old Albertus Steenkamp is known for his “rudeness and aggressive behaviour” towards his workers.

ALSO READ: Plaaswerker glo gevra om saak teen boer terug te trek

“We welcome the arrest of the farmer in the rural town of Calvinia in the Northern Cape. There are also allegations that this farmer is known for assaulting workers and nothing has ever happened to him,” he said.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development spokesperson, Reggie Ngcobo, said they condemn the incident.

“We call for the law to take its course.

“We also call on farm workers and farmers to always find amicable ways of resolving whatever disputes that arise at the workplace. Farmers and farm workers need each other at all times,” Ngcobo said.

Steenkamp appeared in the Calvinia Magistrate's Court on Friday 31 March 2023 for his bail hearing in an attempted murder case.

Bail was set at R5000, and the case was postponed to 25 April 2023 for the decision to refer the matter to the District Court and further investigations.

ALSO READ: Gewese Boer Soek 'n Vrou-deelnemer borgtog toegestaan

Police spokesperson sergeant Timothy Sam confirmed that Albertus Steenkamp was arrested on Monday 27 March 2023, and charged with attempted murder.

“It has been alleged that the farmworker confronted the farmer about his unpaid salary but he was aggressively asked to leave.

"The victim went back to the suspect the next day, but the suspect reportedly threatened him with a pole.

"The victim eventually decided to pack up his belongings and leave the property out of fear for his life at this point. Steenkamp then followed the victim with his vehicle and allegedly ran him over,” Sam explained.

OFM News