No pay for a year for government workers in Eastern Cape

2 February 2015

I will today write to the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, requesting that the Department of Labour urgently intervene in the labour crisis that persists at the Majola and Magwa tea plantations in the Eastern Cape, where the non-payment of more than 4000 workers has been ongoing for close to a year.  

Following a recent oversight visit by my colleague, DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Annette Steyn MP, it was revealed that the plantations, which are government owned and collectively employ over 4000 workers, are allegedly in financial difficulty which has led to thousands of employees not receiving any pay - despite the fact that they continue to work. 

This claim of financial difficulty is surprising considering the plantations have received capital injection of over R200 million from government to date. The question is - where has this money gone?

Over 760 permanent workers and 2500 seasonal workers at the Magwa plantation have not been paid since May last year, even though they have been at work for the duration of the year. This is but another example of ordinary South African citizens having to shoulder the negative effects of sheer operational incompetence by the ANC government. 

While these plantations are strategically situated to provide work for the poor in isolated communities, it seems a ‘work for no pay' culture has emerged, as workers are being abused at the hand of government. The irony is that it is the very ANC government that is so vocally pro-poor and against the abuse of workers, that is overseeing this appalling situation.

While trade union Nehawu is currently in negotiations with government over the matter, workers continue to suffer as there remains both a deadlock and a lack of urgency.

It is imperative that Minister Oliphant implements the following measures without fail:

Lead an urgent investigation into this matter, including the financial arrangements of these parastatals by government;

Instruct the CCMA to urgently intervene in the matter, as per the CCMA's new powers in section 150 of the Labour Relations Act; and

Ensure labour inspectors are assigned to inspect and assess the working conditions at both plantations.

The DA will continue to ensure the rights of all workers are protected, especially from state abuse.

Statement issued by Ian Ollis MP, DA Shadow Minister of Labour, February 2 2015

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