Farmer surprises officials, asks for inspection
2012-04-20 20:00
Johannesburg - A Sannieshof farmer surprised labour inspectors on Friday when he asked them to inspect his farm in North West.
"Generally we are confronted with farmers who would rather we did not visit, but this is a new and strange experience," labour department spokesperson Musa Zondi said in a statement.
Farmer NM Grobler saw a team of inspectors passing his farm and stopped them, asking if they would check his farm too.
The inspectors found that there were a few things that needed attention on the farm. Grobler asked them to return within a week so he could have the problems rectified.
Zondi said: "It shows that there are those farmers who take their business seriously and are committed to comply with labour laws."
Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant said in the statement that she hoped to come across "more Mr Groblers".
Other farms were inspected and Oliphant said she was impressed.
However, the treatment of workers on some farms remained a concern.
On one farm, workers paid R120 for a room which did not have proper sanitation or electricity. They were also expected to pay R90 a month for water.
Of 31 farms inspected in North West, half complied with the basic conditions of employment and occupational health and safety.
"The North West is the eighth province that we have visited, with Gauteng outstanding," Olifant said.
It was clear from these visits that the department still had much to do when it came to making labour laws and getting farmers to comply with them, she said.
- SAPA
