The Plight of Farm Labourers
Martha Mamputa
After a day of picking grapes in the heat, (40 degrees +). Farm workers are paid per crate picked.
A Shared Space
Priscilla Matom, Ntombi Mthandeki, Linda Simpasa, they slept in the same barn as Martha for a period of six weeks during the grape picking season. They all became like a family and supported each other.
Albert Klaasen
Bodies show the effects of hard work and alcohol abuse. “I live by the cycle of planting, growth, harvesting and then re-working the land.”
Nongakaninani Klaas
“ Show me any kind of fruit tree and I can prune it for you and pick it and feed it.”
Mzwakhe Mngxuma
This work, is all he, his father and his father’s father know. He has a matric from Riebeek Kasteel around the mountain, but how to move forward from here?
Oom Paul Heyns
Died in 2003 of lung cancer, people think he was 52 years old. The workers graveyard of generations was dug up to build a dam, no-one could stop it.
Seasonal Workers
Frans Pieterse, Daniel Wessels, Jan Engelbrecht, Cornelus Albertus and Jafta Nero are seasonal grape pickers, wheat planters, combine harvester drivers, sheep and cow nannies!
Tiger Martinus
Known for driving any kind of vehicle under any conditions, always with his hat on.
By
Tracey Derrick
