Confusion reigns over end to Cape farm strike

Confusion about the ending of the violent Western Cape farmworkers strike reigned yesterday as Cosatu and AgriSA sent out contradictory messages.

The trade union federation announced that it had made a breakthrough in wage negotiations in Clanwilliam - one of the farming towns affected - and that workers would return to work.

Tony Ehrenreich, Cosatu's provincial general secretary, said "good farmers" had offered to pay their workers R105 a day, which he claimed workers had accepted.

He said Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant would then consider regularising R105 a day a "sectoral determination" for the area.

"We have a sufficient number to allow the government to set the sectoral determination.

"We will pursue these agreements across the country . We might not push it now because we have limited bargaining power - but we will be back at harvesting time."

Ehrenreich said protests would continue in De Doorns and other towns.

But AgriSA dismissed Cosatu's claims.

It said: "An offer made by a single farmer, who is apparently highly dependent on the services of a large number of temporary workers during peak harvest time, was welcomed by Cosatu and portrayed by them as a collective deal with Clanwilliam farmers, which could serve as a trendsetter for wider application."

It said its members would continue to take part in the review of the statutory minimum wage for the sector, to be concluded soon .

Farmworkers went on strike in November to demand a wage of R150 a day. The strike resumed last week after wage talks failed.

Western Cape agriculture and rural development MEC Gerrit van Rensberg said yesterday that the provincial government was concerned about "the high level of intimidation of farmworkers who don't want to partake" in the strike, and the destruction of property.

"It is unacceptable that protesters are destroying the very means of employment opportunities they are supposedly protesting for," said Van Rensberg.

"The destruction of a packing shed in Sandrivier Estate, outside Wellington, last night has destroyed the jobs of more than 500 workers."