Farmworkers strike force closure of roads in the Boland

Imogen Vollenhoven
9 January 2013

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.

 Farmworkers said they would not return to the vineyards this afternoon as the situation had become too volatile. 

Meanwhile the N1 highway at De Doorns remains closed to traffic amongst continued clashes between farmworkers and the police. 

 Protesters blocked the road with rocks and threw stones at the police, who retaliated by firing rubber bullets.

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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