Striking farmworkers in De Doorns are currently marching towards the offices of the Hex River Valley Table Grapes Association.

Along the way, the crowd will also make a stop at the De Doorns police station.

According to a Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Fawu) shop steward, Monwabisi Kondile, they are going to hand over a “peaceful strike policy” at both venues.

We are going to the police and farmers to give them this policy. We are still continuing with the strike but are trying a new strategy. The whole of South Africa thinks we are criminals, but we are not. It’s not about violence to resolve something. We are coming with peace to resolve things.

Kondile added that their demand stood at R150 for a daily wage. However they were keen to negotiate, even looking at between R120 and R130.

We want peace on both sides. We want to negotiate.

In an incredible display of consideration for others, Kondile also promised that workers would use a back road for the march instead of the N1 highway.

We don’t want to disturb the N1 because it’s a national road and we understand that.

[Source: iol]