Key role players in the emancipation of North West farm workers vowed to ensure realistic implementation of the resolutions as adopted during the end of a two day Farm Workers’ Summit held at Haartebeespoort Dam in the Bojanala Platinum District on 4 and 5 March 2010.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) working together with the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development, involved provincial departments, labour movements, Human Rights Commission, various provincial agricultural unions; all came under one roof to discuss challenges experienced by farm workers, with the view to eventually develop a focused programme aimed at addressing those challenges.
More than 200 farm workers and dwellers from various farms in the North West attended this summit, which deliberated largely on aspects such as the living and working conditions of farm workers as well as their constitutional rights and empowerment programmes.
Addressing delegates on the rationale behind this initiative, the National Chairperson for Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Honourable Mlungisi Johnson said the basic purpose of this summit is to provide an open platform for all stakeholders to submit their solution oriented contributions in dealing with the plight of farm workers.
“We want to listen to the farm workers, farm dwellers and farmers themselves, and jointly strategise and develop a mutual plan that we will implement and monitor together as partners,” stated Mr Johnson.
The summit resolved to amongst others, ensure the establishment of a provincial structure for farm workers and dwellers, expose farm workers to basic education and skills development, advocate for the development of a policy to govern burial on farms, and the expansion of comprehensive health care programmes and social services to farms.
Rendering a message of support during the last day of the summit, MEC for Agriculture, Conservation, Environment, and Rural Development, Mr Boitumelo Tshwene said he is convinced that only unity and transparency can make the goals of the envisaged strategic plan achievable and sustainable. MEC Tshwene challenged delegates to spare nothing of their strength, their courage and their wisdom, until the benefits of the farm workers strategic framework objectives (to be adopted during the National Summit), are realised.
The National Farm Workers’ Summit will be held in May this year, after all provinces have hosted theirs. The resolutions of provincial summits will serve as the basis for the national strategic framework or government policy formulation aimed at addressing the plight of farm dwellers, farm workers and farm owners.
For further information please contact:
Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole
Tel: 012 319 7017
Cell: 083 265 8728
E-mail: CCO@nda.agric.za
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Tel: 018 389 5684/5719
Cell: 082 901 2435
E-mail: Bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development, North West Provincial Government
8 March 2010
Source: Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development, North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za/Agricultur/)
