Johannesburg - The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) on Saturday called for peace among Western Cape farmworkers during their strike.
“Workers need to be disciplined or they risk loosing much needed popular support in broader society,” spokesman Khaya Xaba said in a statement.
Farmworkers in De Doorns in the Western Cape want their minimum R69 daily wage increased to R150. The strike began on August 27
last year, and was called off on December 4 and resumed on Wednesday.
He said the YCLSA have consistently supported the legitimate demands of the striking workers and would continue to push for increased wages as well as an increased minimum wages.
However, workers and their leadership should avoid being affiliated with hooliganism, criminal vandalism and looting.
“We are extremely concerned by reports of violence emerging from divisions between workers and union representatives. We believe that workers cannot afford to open themselves to accusations of intimidation or violence.”
Since the strike resumed on Wednesday the De Doorns had been the epicentre of violent clashes between protesters and police.
On Thursday police used a water cannon, fired rubber bullets and stun grenades in an attempt to disperse thousands of strikers who pelted them with stones.
On Saturday morning a truck was hijacked and set alight.
Xaba echoed SA Communist Party general-secretary Blade Nzimande’s comments that the premier of the Western Cape lacked leadership.
Earlier on Saturday Nzimande said premier and Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille must not act like a “cry baby” about the farmworkers strike in De Doorns.
“I have a message for Helen Zille. Do not be like a cry-baby asking national government to intervene,” he told several thousand ANC members gathered at Kings Park stadium in Durban for the African National Congress's 101st anniversary celebrations.
Xaba said Zille either feared the workers or did not care about them.
“She has shown that she is an active supporter of the minority elite farm owner community.”
Spokesman for the premier Zak Mbhele said Nzimande's comments could only be ignored.
“No thinking South African would take them seriously.”
He called Xaba's comments complete nonsense.
“The interests of farmworkers are a key concern for the Western Cape government.”
He said that was why they have called for Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant to show leadership and intervene in the farmworker strike.
“The longer the violence and disruptions continue, the more damage the farming sector will suffer, which will harm exports and ultimately the jobs and livelihoods of farmworkers.”
On Saturday the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) offered to intervene in the.
“We have the authority to intervene, and the skills and experience to mediate a solution,” executive director Nerine Kahn said in a statement.
The CCMA said they were in a position to mediate a binding short-term agreement while the parties wait for a sectoral wage determination by the labour department. - Sapa