Raymond Willemse, Die Burger
Stellenbosch - "This year we have had a better festive season than last year," said Rita Andreas, spokesperson of a provincial forum for farmworkers in the Western Cape, reported Die Burger.
"The relationship between farm workers and producers is stronger and a good and hopeful new year lies ahead for the people on farms in the Western Cape."
Andreas said there were a few strikes on farms, but it did not get out of hand like those the previous year.
"The farmworkers quickly concluded that people from outside are trying to abuse them," said Andreas. She is a founding member of the forum.
"No one knows the conditions of farmworkers better than farmworkers themselves. There are no politics involved in the forum. It is a platform where producers and farmworkers can come together to discuss issues and solve them without resorting to violence."
She said the forum has about 7 000 members.
"There is still work to be done, but the relationship is improving rapidly. We do not choose sides and try to remain neutral in order to come up with solutions."
Andreas said the forum will be officially launched next month.
"Farm workers need to know we are there for them and we shall not exploit them. They should also be wary of outsiders, who know nothing about farmworkers and want to create strife for their own personal gain, and after which farmworkers suffer. It is also important for producers to be involved."
Stellenbosch - "This year we have had a better festive season than last year," said Rita Andreas, spokesperson of a provincial forum for farmworkers in the Western Cape, reported Die Burger.
"The relationship between farm workers and producers is stronger and a good and hopeful new year lies ahead for the people on farms in the Western Cape."
Andreas said there were a few strikes on farms, but it did not get out of hand like those the previous year.
"The farmworkers quickly concluded that people from outside are trying to abuse them," said Andreas. She is a founding member of the forum.
"No one knows the conditions of farmworkers better than farmworkers themselves. There are no politics involved in the forum. It is a platform where producers and farmworkers can come together to discuss issues and solve them without resorting to violence."
She said the forum has about 7 000 members.
"There is still work to be done, but the relationship is improving rapidly. We do not choose sides and try to remain neutral in order to come up with solutions."
Andreas said the forum will be officially launched next month.
"Farm workers need to know we are there for them and we shall not exploit them. They should also be wary of outsiders, who know nothing about farmworkers and want to create strife for their own personal gain, and after which farmworkers suffer. It is also important for producers to be involved."