Farmworkers strike force closure of roads in the Boland
Imogen Vollenhoven
9
January 2013
Farmworkers said they would not return to the
vineyards this afternoon as the situation had become too volatile.
Protesters blocked the road with rocks and
threw stones at the police, who retaliated by firing rubber bullets.
At least 50 people were arrested today when
renewed farmworker strikes for better wages in the Western Cape turned
violent.
Police Andre Traut said police had been
deployed to contain the situation in the Boland farming town of De Doorns .
Meanwhile the N1 highway at De Doorns
remains closed to traffic amongst continued clashes between farmworkers and the
police.
Western Cape Traffic Chief Kenny Africa
said currently the N1 at De Doorns is still closed for traffic, they are redirecting
traffic just outside De Doorns through De Doorns town and that is the
alternative route right now.
There is another road closed and that is the
Villiersdorp road, the road will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so,
but currently the Villiersdorp road is closed and also the N1 at De Doorns road
is closed with the alternative road through the De Doorns town.
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