Agriculture
Labour Minister, Agriculture MEC visited farms where workers died─── ELSABÉ RICHARD 08:55 Thu, 26 Jan 2023
The MEC of Agriculture in the Northern Cape, Mase Manopole, and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, visited three farms earlier this week where workers died due to suspected heatstroke.
Eight farm workers died on different farms as extreme temperatures persisted in the Northern Cape.
They paid a visit to Groenheuwel, Loveren and Tierkop in Kakamas on Monday where Nxesi urged farmers to prioritise and preserve the livelihood of workers as food security will be affected.
The provincial Agriculture Department’s spokesperson, Zandisile Luphahla, shared in a statement that while the minister had already received a preliminary report into the deaths of the workers, “there are further investigations under way which will pave the way for what actions should be taken to determine if there was negligence.
“We can confirm that, per the preliminary report, about eight people have passed on so far. However, our inspectors and other stakeholders such as the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Agriculture will have to investigate further, so that actions can be taken if there is someone who was found to be negligent.
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“We are not here to investigate farmers. We are here to talk to them and try to find ways how to make sure that such an event does not happen again in future,” said Nxesi.
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warned that high temperatures will continue in the Kakamas area.
OFM News reported earlier that the minister requested farmers to reconsider working hours during heat waves. He emphasised that health and safety are the responsibility of the employer, “hence, in order to protect food security in this country, we need to protect the wellbeing of our farm workers because, without them, we are unable to produce food.
Farmers were also encouraged by Manopole to conduct regular medical tests and assessments on farm workers as this will help prevent the possibility of injuries and death.
“The working relationship between farm owners and the Department of Health should be strengthened, so that regular medical tests are performed, to prevent more deaths on our farms. Health and safety in our farms and constant medical check-ups are our biggest priority in the department,” said Manopole in a statement.
