MEC visits Farming Community
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By Siphokazi Nonjobe
Social Development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi visited the farming community of Barnley on 17 September 2015.
This initiative was informed by the trends in farm communities where a growing number of child molestation, escalating rate of illiteracy in children living in farms, child headed households and child poverty were reported.
More than 200 farm workers from Komga, Sutterheim, Seymour and Fort Beaufort converged and were informed about government services and how to access them.
In the presence of Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Ms Pamela Tshwete, the farm community members revealed their challenges of how they still can’t access schools and sanitation, how their masters (farm owners) refuse healthcare services on their land and how they kicked them out of their land when they are old and sick without giving them alternative accommodation and how other farmers have forcefully taken their livestock and were left to starve.
In response to their cries Ms Tshwete said in her office they will thoroughly take into consideration all of the issues raised and refer other issues to relevant stakeholders. “As a caring government, we have heard your cries and we promise to look at these issues and deal with them.” I would also like to urge you to come forward and report ill treatment of workers. Farm workers have rights too, no one is allowed to ill treat you”, concluded Tshwete