Farm workers on KwaZulu-Natal farms are subjected to gross human rights violations, the province’s Premier, Sibusiso Ndebele, said on Human Rights Day on Wednesday.
In an address at Besters Farm in Ladysmith, Ndebele said most farm workers are being refused access to water, sanitation, electricity and education.
”They are also facing abuses such as unfair dismissals, farm evictions, fresh grave exhumations, [and] physical and psychological assaults by farmers and security companies.”
Ndebele said his government is beefing up manpower in government offices, especially in rural villages, to ensure that public service and delivery are carried out effectively.
Racial tension is among other problems in KwaZulu-Natal, he said.
”It is important that we deal with matters of racial intolerance head on. There is an unfortunate tendency in this province to skirt over such matters or adopt the ostrich syndrome — bury our heads in the sand and hope that when we wake up tomorrow the problem will have disappeared from the firmament,” he said.
”We are appealing for a greater sense of respect and understanding between different cultures in the province … this will build trust, tolerance and mutual respect.”
Ndebele also condemned the inadequate progress made by the government towards land reform.
He said, however, that his province is progressing, with about 199 extended family households — about 2 500 people in total — having acquired ownership of 14 farms.
Each farm consists of an average of 14 households that have been formed into communal property associations. Each association has established its own constitution and bylaws.
Human Rights Day this year marks 40 years since the death of Albert Luthuli in 1967.
”Chief Luthuli was a complex character with so many abilities and interests,” the premier said. ”We have taken advantage of this unusual incidence of so many characteristics in one person, to centre most of our programmes this year on Chief Luthuli.”
He also highlighted the importance of agrarian reforms and quality education in KwaZulu-Natal, concluding that ”perhaps agriculture has the greatest potential to play a more meaningful role in the economic lives of our people”.
”We learn very useful lessons here at Besters [Farm]. This is a shining example of how we should live together. We either live together and prosper, or abuse each other’s basic rights and perish together as fools,” Ndebele said.