AWB man charged in Western Cape
2012-12-06 18:00
Cape Town - An Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) member
appeared in the Worcester Magistrate's Court on Thursday for alleged possession
of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
Charl Smal, 43, was granted bail of R1 500 and was told
to return to court on 18 January, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
said.
NPA Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Smal
was one of seven men arrested in a routine roadblock on the N1 on Tuesday
morning, during farmworker protests.
Police said the men were driving towards De Doorns when
their car was searched. An unlicensed .308 Mauser and 60 rounds of ammunition
were found.
Six of the men were released after an investigation.
AWB leader Steyn van Ronge confirmed that Smal was a
member.
Table grape harvesters began protesting in De Doorns in
early November for a wage of R150 a day and improved living conditions. The
protests soon spread to 15 other towns, leading to violence and two deaths.
Farmworkers suspended the strike until Tuesday to allow
the Employment Conditions Commission to review the sectoral determination for
agriculture, which stipulates minimum wages, number of leave days, working
hours, and termination rules among others.
However, many workers resumed the strike after Labour
Minister Mildred Oliphant said it would be impossible to address their demands
by their Tuesday deadline.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions announced on Tuesday that
the strike had ended after it came to an agreement with Agri-SA to conduct
negotiations on a farm-by-farm basis.
Talks would be about the wage demand and a profit-sharing
scheme.
If no agreement was reached by 9 January, workers on
those farms would strike again.
- SAPA
