Update

GEORGE NEWS - Protest action in Touwsranten came to an end late yesterday afternoon when a settlement for a wage dispute at Mandalay farm had been reached.

The strike by members of the trade union NCFAWU (National Certificated Fishing & Allied Workers Union) not only affected workers at Mandalay, but strained farming activities at various other farms in Hoekwil who's workers were allegedly intimidated and threatened. 

The union represent about 80 workers of Mandalay, a vegetable farm owned by Peter Leppan.

The strike started in the early hours of Monday morning and stretched over four days. 

Although NCFAWU obtained permission for a peaceful legal strike, it seems they did not stick to the rules. Since Monday several incidents were reported of rocks being thrown at vehicles and staff members at the pick-up points in Touwsranten. 

These incidents allegedly quieten down when the police are present, but flare up when workers need to be picked up or dropped in the early morning and late afternoon.

Relief
Leppan said he is very glad it’s all over. "We reached a two year settlement, R1 above minimum wage. We altered the qualifications for bonuses, but bonuses will still be given on merit," said Leppan.

Speaking to various sources, the George Herald obtained information that workers at many farms - unrelated to the wage dispute at Mandalay - feared for their lives and property. 

These threats were made to workers who stay at Touwsranten and work on different farms. 

According to one source, workers who were picked up for duty on Thursday morning quickly jumped off a bakkie when strikers threatened to burn their houses, should they go to work. 

"We had only skeleton staff," said the source. "The people were terrified."

The George Herald reliably learned that a threat by some strikers to burn Leppan's farm on Thursday evening made the rounds.

The trade union leader, Clarence Mtyenele, earlier said he was unaware of any incidents of stone throwing by union members. When asked for comment today, he said these allegations of violence were never brought to his attention. 

"We saw the pictures of the stone throwing only on Wednesday, and were notified by the accusations by the George Herald," said Mtyenele. 

"What I did notice on Thursday morning was that there were many other workers who joined the strike for their own reasons. I had to tell them by 12:00 to go home."

Read a previous article| Mandalay protest: Vehicles stoned, worker injured by rock

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