MBOMBELA – Just six months after
Mr David Mabuza raised his concerns over farm dwellers and announced that he would set up a commission that would help guide government on necessary steps to transform their lives, the premier finally delivered on his promise.
Mabuza officially announced an eight-member commission of inquiry to investigate and report to him on the socio-economic conditions of farm dwellers in the province.
Mabuza, who boldly stated that he had hand-picked members of this special commission tasked with a huge job, is hopeful that the commission will deliver.
The members include Adv Eunanda Fourie, Adv Jakobus Louw, Mr Knowledge Soko, Mr Ernest Mmako, Mr Robert Davel, Mr David Mokoena and Ms Mavis Maya.
“I have hand-picked these good and credible South Africans. I am confident that I have made the best selection. I have used the people that I know that they will help me and that I can leave them with this assignment.
“The reason why I picked and mixed members of this commission was because I needed a high level of professionalism and people who are knowledgeable on labour issues and who understand the real issues taking place in our farms,” said Mabuza.
He urged citizens to cooperate and work with the commission by submitting evidence either orally or by way of written submission. “The message that I gave them is that they must stay calm, be patient and stay focused. We have a problem here and it warrants our attention and our intervention. All of us value the role that this sector is playing.
“We are therefore here to say while we support the production of food in our province by the farmers, the conditions of the workers must be favourable to their well-being too. This is a good intention for all of us, in our efforts to try and address the animosity that exists between the farm owners and the dwellers.”
According to the premier, the scope of an investigation will look among others on the protection of human rights with specific emphasis on the realisation of socio-economic rights, employment and safety security, access to adequate and sustainable housing and security of tenure.
It will also focus on the conditions such as the working hours and levels, as well as the scope and extent of compensation.
It will focus on compliance with safe and healthy conditions, access to quality education, access to quality health care, access to the justice system and prevalence of unlawful evictions and the curtailment thereof.
