Farm workers in De Doorns have been striking for three weeks, demanding that their minimum wages be increased from R71 to R150 a day.
Outgoing Cape Chamber of Commerce president Michael Bagraim said the business community was "extremely concerned" by the violent nature of the strike.
"It was unexpected. Six months ago, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant set minimum wages for farm workers. We expected an outcry then but nothing happened. The labour ministry had even consulted Cosatu," said Bagraim.
Yesterday, strikes spread to several farms in Ceres, Robertson, Riebeek Kasteel and Somerset West areas.
Provincial police spokesman André Traut said 14 areas had been affected by the unrest but the police's focus was on De Doorns, Ceres, Robertson, Prince Albert Hamlet and Somerset West.
"This morning a police officer was admitted to hospital after he sustained a head injury inflicted by a stone that was thrown by protesting farm workers in Ceres. His condition is stable," he said.
Agri-West Cape spokesman Porchia Adams said a building was also set alight in Ceres, allegedly by striking farm workers.
Adams said several roads were closed.
Agriculture MEC Gerrit van Rensburg's spokesman, Wouter Kriel, said the deciduous fruit industry was thought to have lost R114-million in export revenue over the past two weeks.
"Farm workers are losing R28-million in wages for every week they strike," said Kriel.
But in De Doorns, farm workers were adamant they would not cease their work stoppage until they were guaranteed a minimum wage of R150 a day.
Bagraim said strikes on farms had more to do with the ANC's upcoming elective conference than minimum wages.
"It's very strange; it seems that we are affected by Mangaung politics and also because the Western Cape is controlled by the DA. [The strikes] won't stop now and we expect them to spread," he said.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Tina JoematPettersson addressed about 5000 striking farm workers on Monday in De Doorns after talks with agricultural unions to resolve the impasse failed.
Joemat-Pettersson told the farm workers that their strike had inspired workers around South Africa and that the agricultural sector would never be the same again.
The minister told the farm workers that she would lobby Oliphant to change the sectoral determination minimum wage for farm workers.
She said she would report back to them in two weeks.
Source: The Times
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