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Johannesburg - Some farmers in De Doorns, in the Western Cape, are trying to replace farmworkers with staff sourced through labour brokers, the Food and Allied Workers' Union (Fawu) claimed on Tuesday.
"It appears that farm owners have waited until the 'season ended' in order to embark on this 'cleansing process' of workers...," general secretary Katishi Masemola said in a statement.
He said farmers seemed particularly eager to oust Fawu members and workers who were "vocal in their demands for a living wage".
At the beginning of November, table grape harvesters started protesting in De Doorns for R150 per day and improved living conditions.
Most earned between R69 and R75 a day. The protests soon spread to 15 other towns, leading to violence and two deaths, before the strike ended on December 4.
Masemola said there were concerns that the workers supplied by labour brokers could ultimately replace permanent staff.
"This move has fuelled more frustrations and, if unresolved, it will leave us with no choice but to embark on protected strikes and other lawful protest actions."
He said the union would speak to farmers in the next 10 days in an attempt to convince them to use permanent workers for off-season work, rather than those recruited through labour brokers.
Agri Wes-Cape spokesperson Porchia Adams said: "The Fawu statements seem to be based on allegations and speculation and Agri Wes-Cape insists on actual proven facts that we will gladly respond to".
