The Stellenbosch-based Lawyers for Human Rights was closely monitoring a case in which a Kraaifontein farmer allegedly beat his employee, put a gun to his head, and subsequently evicted him.
”There have been many instances of evictions and non-compliance with the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, and people have been put out on the road in some instances,” human rights lawyer Kamal Makan said on Thursday.
He said in the latest incident Moses Plaatjies went to see his wife, who was also employed at the farm, to get the keys to their house. Plaatjies’S daughter was apparently missing and he went to look for her.
According to Makan, while Plaatjies was at the house, the farmer arrived, threw him to the ground and stamped on him. Plaatjies went to the police and laid a charge of assault on June 26.
On June 27 he went to the Kraaifontein clinic where he was booked off work until July 9, because of rib injuries.
Plaatjies gave the medical certificate to his wife who informed the farmer. The farmer replied that if Plaatjies did not report for he work he would have to vacate the house.
The farmer then went to Plaatjie’s home while he was convalescing and a verbal altercation ensued. During the argument, the farmer allegedly took out a revolver and pointed it at Plaatjie’s head after the worker addressed him as ”jy of jou”. The farmer relented only when he was called ”baas”.
A charge of pointing a firearm was laid at the police station on July 21.
On Monday, the farmer removed all Plaatjies’s possessions from the house, put them at the side of the road and fired the wife.
”The farmer gave them no moneys or salaries, and just left them,” said Makan.
According to Kraaifontein police, the farmer had not been arrested and no reason was given.
The farmer could not be contacted for comment.- Sapa