FARM WORKERS WANT HALT ON EVICTIONS

FARM workers have called on the government to place a moratorium on all evictions until it establishes special courts to handle rural violence cases. The Mpumalanga Labour Tenants Committee said on Wednesday that the abuse of farm workers would increase if offers by fascist American organisations like the Ku Klux Klan to protect white farmers in South Africa were accepted. Deputy chairman Fana Mthethwa said the existing justice system sided with farmers and was unable to protect black labour tenants and workers against torture and abuse. The committee was formed by abused farm dwellers from Wakkerstroom who fled to Gauteng over the past six years in fear of rogue part-time members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). They claim that commandos and white farmers tortured them with impunity because they colluded with the police, prosecutors and magistrates. – African Eye News Service