The Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform conducted public hearings on the Extension of Security of Tenure Amendment Bill this past weekend on 22 October in Addo, Eastern Cape.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Phumuzile Ngwenya-Mabila, said that the principal act was passed to protect farm owners, farm dwellers and farm workers. However, during implementation it was realised that certain clauses need to be amended and new clauses need to be inserted.

The Committee heard a number of farm workers who raised the ill treatment that they face on farms, indicating that the principal Act is being ignored by farmers.  The Committee has found similar situations in all parts of the country it has visited.

Farm workers receive a raw deal, with little or no protection from the law. They are evicted without eviction orders when they are no longer capable of working on the farms due to old age or ill health. The Committee heard of a farm worker who had worked for 50 years and was evicted without compensation. They are also deprived of their right to freedom of expression, as once they raise a problem the farm owner evicts them.

Another farm worker recounted how he had worked for 44 years, but when the farm was sold he was not employed by the new owner. Others spoke of not being able to visit the graves of their loved ones when they leave the farms and have to beg for permission from farm owners to bury their families. Still some complained of not being able to receive visitors.

More importantly, most live without water, electricity or land for their cattle to graze on. Once there is a dispute between the farm workers and farm owner, the owner will disconnect the water and electricity as they buy the electricity from the owner. Their homes are demolished and they open cases with SAPS.

Representatives from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform have been present at all public hearings and were requested to make follow ups on the issues raised and present to the Committee with a progress report in 30 days.

The last public hearing will be held in Northern Cape on 12 November 2016 and thereafter there will be a stakeholder engagement and finally all the inputs received on the Extension of Security of Tenure Act Amendment Bill will be consolidated into a report and presented to Parliament.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform, Ms Phumuzile Ngwenya-Mabila