Barrydale, Overberg, Western Cape, 15 January 2013 -At noon today, Mr Henry Michaels (Chairperson on Mawubuye Land Rights Movement), Mr Paul De Wet, Mr Kerneels Jambu and one other, were arrested outside the fruit depot in Barrydale, in the on-going solidarity and protest actions in the struggle for a living wage for farmworkers. They are asking for R150 per day.

These arrests follow the protests that swept through the Western Cape for better living conditions on farms; the development of rural people; against the lack of transformation in the rural areas; and the way commercial farmers have determined agriculture and land in this country.

In our communication with Warrant Officer Kees (officer in charge of the case at the Barrydale Police Station: number 028 572 1001) the four men were arrested for public violence. More than this he could not tell us.

He could not confirm whether they had been charged, but confirmed that they are in still in police custody.

In other areas where protest action is on-going, farmworkers have said that they will push forth until their demand for a living wage and a life of dignity is met.