Human Rights Commission subpoenas Mpumalanga’s agriculture MEC

The Human Rights Commission subpoenaed Mpumalanga’s MEC for agriculture‚ rural development‚ land and environmental affairs regarding farm workers’ rights.

The commission said in a statement that Vusi Shongwe’s notice to appear before it arose out of a complaint in which it is alleged that the owners of Ryton Estate Farm‚ near Ngodwana‚ sold the farm to the Department of Agriculture‚ Rural Development‚ Land and Environmental Affairs without the knowledge or consent of 214 farm workers‚ who were previously allocated portions of the farm.

The farm owners allegedly failed to pay the workers what was due to them in terms of the share agreement.

The Chapter 9 institution said it had previously requested information from the department but had received no response was therefore proceeding with its investigation.