Health
With regard to the spread of COVID-19 on farms:
- What (i) is the number of farm workers who have contracted the coronavirus and (ii) are the details of the farms where they work, (b) what mechanisms are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on farms and (c) what interventions has the government put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus when farm workers are transported on the back of trucks?
The following response was received by the Department of Argiculture.
- (i) As with any other sector of the economy, agri workers have been affected by COVID-19; however it is impossible to determine the exact number of workers due to doctor-patient confidentiality clauses which are adhered to by the Department of Health. (ii) For this same reason the Department does not have a record of the details of farms where positive cases occurred. However the Department can confirm that all cases of Covid-19 that the Department was made aware of, were reported to both the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL) as well as the Department of Health in order to ensure that all required protocols are adhered to.
(b)The WCDoA has shared, and continuously disseminates, updated relevant information regarding regulations and legislation in terms of safety and hygiene regarding COVID-19 with the industry stakeholders, in order to ensure that the sector is informed and compliant with COVID-19 protocols. The guidelines developed by the industry bodies also contain all the rules that must be complied with during the national lockdown, packaged in a user-friendly manner, and includes good hygiene practices, social distancing, transporting of agri- workers, etc. The WCDoA has also developed a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document which serves as an additional guide for producers /farmers. The enforcement of the regulations lies with the various government institutions e.g. DoEL, road traffic law enforcement, SAPS and SANDF, etc. The Department also facilitates stakeholder engagement sessions where compliance to the regulatory frameworks is amplified.
(c )The Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) is continuously creating awareness in terms of the prevailing Covid-19 regulations, inclusive of regulations relating to the transportation of agri workers, which must be adhered to. This includes regular stakeholder engagements with producers, organised agriculture and agri workers 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 uniform 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, as every precaution must be taken to minimize the risk of transmission when workers are transported.
