DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ADDRESSES FARM WORKERS’ PLIGHT IN PAARL

By Cuma Pantshwa

• The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ganief Hendricks, acknowledged the plight of farmworkers and other residents in the Cape Winelands, where they face poor living conditions, illegal evictions and exploitation.
• While the agriculture sector made a significant contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) of 12%, the farmworkers remained among the most vulnerable.
• The deputy minister announced a multi-faceted intervention plan to address the issues faced by the country’s farmworkers, focusing on services for children, older persons, people with disabilities, gender-based violence prevention, and sustainable livelihoods.

The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ganief Hendricks, delivered a passionate and impactful address to residents of Paarl, shedding light on the dire conditions faced by farmworkers and residents in the Cape Winelands District.

His speech, which formed part of the Department of Social Development’s ministerial outreach programme, outlined the department’s commitment to bringing services to the people.

Deputy Minister Hendricks began by acknowledging the widespread issues of illegal evictions, poor living conditions, and exploitation that many farmworkers and other residents face, particularly in the Cape Winelands. “This is a matter of national interest that requires our collective action,” he emphasised.

Having visited farms in the Drakenstein Local Municipality the day before, the deputy minister shared harrowing accounts of the conditions he witnessed, including a farm where the owner had cruelly cut off water supply to residents. He described these actions as a clear violation of their constitutional rights.

Highlighting the agricultural sector’s contribution to the economy, Deputy Minister Hendricks noted its role in generating 12% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) when considering the entire value chain and in employing over 200 000 people in the Western Cape alone.

However, he lamented that farmworkers remain among the most vulnerable, grappling with poverty wages, precarious working conditions, and limited access to essential services like education, healthcare, and housing.

The deputy minister confirmed that he, together with the minister, would tackle these mammoth tasks. He announced a multi-faceted intervention plan to address their issues, focusing on services for children, older persons, people with disabilities, gender-based violence prevention, and sustainable livelihoods.

He assured residents that the Department of Social Development, along with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development Agency (NDA), would strengthen existing services in Drakenstein.

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “I will keep coming back here and I look forward to working together with you to strengthen and protect your rights as well as tackle all the inhumane battles you’ve raised today.”

The deputy minister’s heartfelt speech was met with appreciation from the community and the Department of Social Development’s partners, with many participants expressing that he embodied the values of a champion of social justice and human rights.