Komsberg manager given seven-day ultimatum … workers threaten to forcefully remove him

TENSIONS are mounting at Komsberg Grape Farm as workers are up in arms against the farm manager Jannie Thiart over what they describe as unfair labour practices.

In a letter dated 22 January, workers gave Thiart and his son Heinrich Thiart, who is an assistant manager at the farm, seven days starting on 23 January to leave the farm.

The workers threatened a forced removal of the duo from the farm if they failed to heed the ultimatum.

“Enough is enough. We will use all our powers to force them to leave the farm immediately,” workers threatened in a letter they wrote to the Komsberg farm management.

“We have decided to give them seven days to leave, otherwise we will contravene the Labour Act,” the letter further states.

Thiart and his son, both South African citizens, are being accused of mistreating workers, victimisation and alleged unfair dismissal of workers who were involved in last year’s industrial action over alleged unfair labour practices.

“We don’t want to work for Thiart and his son,” the workers stated.

Thiart yesterday brushed off allegations against him as baseless.

Referring to workers’ threats to forcefully remove him and his son from the farm, Thiart said he would let the law take its course.

Komsberg farming was recently liquidated, and a new owner is expected to soon take ownership of the grape production business at the farm.

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