AN ACCIDENT has left 80 farmworkers injured after a truck they were travelling in overturned.
The incident happened in Klapmuts, outside Cape Town, early yesterday.
EMS spokeswoman Deanna Bessick said they received a call about the incident at 7am, and 12 ambulances and two rescue cars were sent to the scene.
“Two patients are seriously injured, 27 sustained moderate to serious injuries and 51 sustained minor injuries,” she said.
Transport MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela wished the injured workers a speedy recovery. He said the truck driver was trying to avoid crashing into a car when he lost control. He also urged drivers not to go over the vehicle capacity.
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“We urge drivers, especially of trucks, to always drive with caution and not exceed the total vehicle carrying capacity. We wish all the injured workers a speedy recovery,” said Madikizela.
Earlier this month, a farmworker was killed in a crash near Worcester after the truck carrying 38 workers overturned in heavy rain.
Wendy Pekeur of the Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth Movement, that advocated for the rights of farmworkers, said regulations for transporting workers should be put in place.
“It should not be an issue of only speaking when there’s an incident, and then going quiet.”
Pekeur said farmworkers were packed like sardines in trucks with no social distancing.
“If a truck is overloaded it’s bound to have an accident, even if it’s roadworthy.
“Farmers continue to do this because there are no consequences,” she said.
“I suggest that farmers organise buses for their workers. They spend the whole day in the sun and then go home in a truck.”
