Agriculture
- (a) What is the number of crashes involving vehicles transporting farm workers to and from work that occurred in (i) 2014, (ii) 2015, (iii) 2016, (iv) 2017, (v) 2018, (vi) 2019, (vii) 2020 and (viii) 2021 to date, including the (aa) areas in which they occurred, (bb) number of the deceased and (cc) number of those injured and (b) what are the (i) plans and (ii) measures put in place to make the transportation of farm workers to and from work safer;
- whether the transportation of farm workers is regulated in the Western Cape; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
1 (a) The Department does not keep record of crashes involving vehicles transporting farm workers, as SAPS and relevant law enforcement agencies record these incidences as per their mandate.
b) Notwithstanding the afore-mentioned, the Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) is continuously creating awareness in terms of the prevailing Covid-19 regulations, which include regulations in terms of the transportation of agri workers, which must be adhered to. The WCDoA arranges regular engagements with producers, organised agriculture, agri workers and all agricultural stakeholders, on a range of matters, which include the safe transportation of agri workers.
Awareness amongst the agricultural community is further improved through the Department collaborating with SAPS, DoCS, and DTPW within the different regions of the Province to ensure adherence to the prevailing legislation and regulations. Agricultural stakeholders are exploring additional collaborations with the Provincial Traffic Management Unit to ensure a uniformed understanding in terms of road safety regulations and legislation. The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) has also offered assistance and support to agricultural businesses through the Covid-19 helpline, offering free professional occupational health and safety (OHS) support including the assessment of worker transport.
(2) The regulatory framework around transportation of workers on trucks, including in the agricultural sector, is the domain of the Department of Transport and Public Works operating in partnership with the national Department of Transport. The enforcement and education around the regulatory framework is also within the ambit of said departments. The Department of Agriculture has, however used its access within the agricultural sector to encourage full compliance with the prevailing legislation. The department will continue to encourage compliance, and where producers breach these legislative provisions and protocols, the law must take its course.
