Ricardo Dunn
Accusations of abuse and intimidation of labourers on smallholdings in the Vanderbijlpark area are not uncommon. The local district surgeon says he treats up to 40 cases of abuse every month.
Cheryl Felix, Vaal River chair of local government, says she has worked with numerous cases of physical and sexual abuse in the Vanderbijlpark area during the past five years.
Felix is furious that Ockie Olivier, who has been charged with abusing nine black schoolchildren in Louisrus was granted R2 500 bail this week. “It’s like Mississipi Burning all over again,” she says. “Decisions like this make black people in rural areas reluctant to report abuse.
“Apart from the fact that labourers feel they have no rights, many will not come forward for fear of intimidation from their employers and the strong right- wing presence in these areas.”
Cornelius Cloete, a member of the Magaliesburg Community Development Forum, says the biggest obstacle when trying to investigate such claims is that “many people withdraw their charges or change their story before a proper investigation is carried out”. Without the assistance of the labourers, the forum cannot hope to bring change to the area, he adds.