township outside of kirkwood south africa moses

Farmworkers in Township outside Kirkwood, South Africa Demand Fair Treatment and Better Working Conditions

In recent times, the township outside of Kirkwood, South Africa has been witnessing a series of protests led by farmworkers and community members demanding better working conditions and fair treatment from commercial farmers. The main demands include a minimum wage of R30 an hour at all businesses in the town, promotions for farmworkers, and a provident fund to ensure their financial security.

The protests have resulted in the shutdown of the towns of Kirkwood and Addo in the Sundays River Valley citrus farming area for seven days. This drastic measure was taken by the protesters to bring attention to their demands and to put pressure on commercial farmers to adhere to their demands.

According to the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and the Sundays River Valley Farm Workers’ Forum (SRVFWF), commercial farmers in this Eastern Cape valley have been accused of instigating xenophobia by ignoring the statutory minimum wage of R23.19 an hour and bringing in workers from other countries to pick citrus fruit at a wage as low as R10 an hour.

The protesters believe that this is not only unfair but also demeans the value and dignity of local farmworkers who have been working tirelessly for years. They are demanding a 70%-30% allocation of jobs between local and migrant workers, which they believe will help to address the issue of xenophobia and promote unity among farmworkers.

The protests have received widespread support from various organizations and individuals who believe in the rights of farmworkers to fair treatment and better working conditions. The South African government has been urged to intervene in the matter and ensure that commercial farmers comply with the demands made by the protesters.

In conclusion, the township outside of Kirkwood, South Africa is witnessing a significant movement for change as farmworkers demand fair treatment and better working conditions from commercial farmers. The protests have brought attention to the issue of xenophobia in the citrus farming industry and has highlighted the need for unity among farmworkers. It remains to be seen whether the demands made by the protesters will be met, but one thing is certain - the movement has sparked a national conversation about the rights of farmworkers and the need for fair treatment.

Township outside of kirkwood south africa moses