Western Cape
20 November 2007
On behalf of the Department of Agriculture and the government of the Western
Cape, I would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the families and next
of kin of the farm workers who were killed and injured in the accident near De
Doorns last night.
Whilst attending the memorial service, at Piketberg last night, for the
victims of the tragic bus accident that took place near Piketberg over the
weekend, I received the shocking news of the accident, which involved farm
workers in the Hexvally area. I rushed to the Eben Donges Hospital straight
after the service to find a very tragic scene where about eight ambulances were
lined up at the Eben Donges Hospital in Worcester with injured farm workers who
were waiting to be admitted to the hospital.
It is shocking to think that we have lost yet another group of farm workers
in an accident whilst they were travelling on an open truck which did not meet
with the required regulations with regards to the transport of people on an
open truck. It is understood that there were about 70 people standing on the
truck, which is totally unacceptable.
The loss of lives is a loss not only to the families, but to the whole
agricultural community and we mourn their death. Although many farmers comply
with the regulations regarding the transport of workers to and from their place
of work, there are incidences like this, which confirms a total disregard for
the lives and the circumstances under which farm workers often have to live and
work.
I am very concerned about the application of the law and the policing by
traffic officials if they cannot pick up and identify violations like these. A
year after the tragic death of many farm workers in the Faure train disaster,
it seems that no progress has been made on the control and monitoring of the
transportation of workers to and from their place of work. I will engage with
my colleagues in the Cabinet on the implementation of more stringent measures
to protect the lives of farm workers who have to travel under these
conditions.
Although I have the full support of organised agriculture and most of the
farmers, it is necessary to meet yet again to discuss the transgression of the
law with regard to the transportation of farm workers by both farmers and
contractors who transport farm workers in any way. I will this morning engage
with my department to set up a conference with all the role-players in the
agricultural and transport sectors with regard to this matter.
Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson: Ministry of Agriculture
Tel: 021 483 4930
Fax: 021 483 3890
Cell: 084 604 6701
E-mail: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial
Government
20 November 2007
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)
