and the hairy horn
Glenda Daniels
A 125-strong workforce from an East Rand factory went on strike after their boss refused to allow a witchdoctor into the premises to investigate why they were suffering rashes, impotence and headaches. When the witchdoctor was eventually allowed in, he discovered a piece of hairy animal horn, the removal of which, they say, restored their health.
This week the strange case reached its climax when 18 of the strikers, who were fired, asked the Labour Appeal Court to rule on their compensation for unfair dismissal.
Back in 1995, when the strike took place, the boss at Chevron Engineering, Edgar Rudge, refused to welcome a witchdoctor on the grounds that as a Christian he “wanted a man of God” to probe the problem.
He prayed for the workers himself, but to no avail. The employees continued to suffer rashes, swollen legs and retarded sex drives. Eventually they went on strike. All were dismissed, but most were subsequently reinstated. Rudge was finally persuaded to allow a witchdoctor on the premises, leading to the discovery of the hairy horn.
While argument this week hinged on issues such as “selective re- employment”, reinstatement and compensation, the question of muti remained central to the case.
“Everything stopped working. First we got headaches, then we got rashes, then our private parts couldn’t work. I lost my wife because of this. But once the witchdoctor removed the muti, it came right again – but my wife was gone,” dismissed worker Vusi Gumede told the Mail & Guardian outside the court this week.
The case was first argued in 1997 in the Industrial Court, which found in favour of the dismissed workers, saying that the dismissal of some workers was an unfair labour practice. Workers were then reinstated but 18 of them were retrenched soon after.
Arguing for the employer, advocate Paul Pretorius, SC, said this week that the company felt the March 1995 strike was “the last straw” and certain departments had to be closed down due to “sound operational reasons”.
Gilbert Marcus, SC, for the employees, said the 1997 decision by the Industrial Court – that the dismissal of 18 workers was an unfair labour practice – should be upheld.
During the four-year saga, the employees have consistently said they could not recover from their illnesses through conventional medicine or prayers – leading the tribunals which have heard the case to ponder the efficacy of traditional medicine.
Industrial Court presiding officer Madisha Legodi said in 1997 that “six out of 10 Africans believe in witchcraft and it is imperative for whites to learn to accommodate this culture. However foreign or obnoxious it may be to some whites, it is hoped that in the new South Africa the different groups will learn the culture of other groups and thereby accommodate that culture even though it might be contrary to Christian principles. This does not mean that Africans who believe in witchcraft are not Christian. I am of the view that Mr Edgar Rudge should have accommodated the demand of his workers.”
Legodi said there had been “startling evidence that something was not well at the company. About 45 workers were affected by the mysterious illness. The workers approached Mr Rudge for six months and pleaded with him to get a prophet to remove the muti at the gate. In order to enhance production and improve the health of his workers Mr Rudge should have permitted a prophet to be allowed on the company premises.”
Heading the delegation for the workers, Gumede said workers would reject the company’s offer of R17 000 compensation. “We have had no jobs for nearly five years, the compensation is too low,” Gumede said.
Asked outside the court this week whether he now believed in witchdoctors, Rudge said gruffly: “I will not talk to you. I have nothing to say. No comment.”