As part of the  ANC January 8th activities, the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi and Deputy Minister, Boitumelo Moloi, together with representatives of the departments of Justice and Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform will be visiting farming areas around Kimberley (Riverton) and Douglas in the Northern Cape on Friday, 10 January 2020.

The purpose of the visits is to engage with farmworkers, farmers and labour tenants to assess the working conditions and level of compliance with various pieces of labour legislations accompanied by labour inspectors.

This is a continuation of the programme begun in July last year of farm inspections which have so far taken place in North West and the Western Cape, and will be followed by inspections around the Kimberley and Douglas areas on 10 January 2020. These inspections typically assess the levels of compliance with labour and occupational health and safety legislations.

Whilst there are many model compliant employers in the Agricultural sector, unfortunately there are still too many cases of non-compliance and near slave-labour conditions, ill-treatment, unfair dismissals and many other challenges. The Department of Employment and Labour through its Inspection and Enforcement Services is determined to tackle these challenges head-on.

The Department of Justice is participating because of the possibility of further legal proceedings. The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform also has an interest, particularly in relation to safeguarding the rights of labour tenants, and workers living on commercial farms.

Media is invited as follows:

Date: 10 January 2020

Venue: Department of Labour: Northern Cape Provincial Office, Kimberley (C/o Pniel & Compound Road)

Time: 08:00am

Media enquiries:

Kebalepile Khula

Provincial Communication Officer

082 043 1504

Sabelo Mali

Ministry Spokesperson

082 729 5804

-ENDS-

Issued by Department of Employment and Labour