Zimbabweans living in a temporary refugee camp in De Doorns stayed away from work yesterday after being frightened by rumours of a protest by locals.
The protest did not happen, but the Zimbabweans - who have been living in makeshift tents on a rugby field since November - said they were taking no chances and would not go to work.
In November, local residents drove scores of Zimbabweans out of their homes as tensions around working conditions on De Doorns farms spilled over.
Zimbabwean farmworkers in the camp said yesterday they had no idea why locals wanted to fight with them.
A 25-year-old married mother of a two-year-old boy said she was too scared to go to work at a nearby farm. At the end of the season, she said, she would return to Zimbabwe with her family.
Wendy Pekeur, secretary general of Sikula Sonke, an organisation representing the interests of farm labourers, said she and other members of the organisation first heard about the planned march while visiting locals in Stofland last weekend.
She said a white bakkie had been seen driving around with a man on the back making announcements with a loudhailer.
He had announced a local ANC meeting, to which residents were told they should bring their identity documents, and that they were to march on the refugee camp yesterday.
"He said they would be demand that the Zimbabweans leave the country," Pekeur said.
She could not identify the man with the loudhailer.
Breede Valley mayor Charles Ntsomi said he was aware of the announcement made in Stofland on Saturday afternoon, but that after investigating could confirm that the only announcement was about an ANC annual meeting to take place the following afternoon.
"I don't know why people are starting rumours," he said, adding that they wanted the Zimbabweans to live normal lives.
De Doorns police were also aware of the rumours, but said no protest march had taken place.
The protest did not happen, but the Zimbabweans - who have been living in makeshift tents on a rugby field since November - said they were taking no chances and would not go to work.
In November, local residents drove scores of Zimbabweans out of their homes as tensions around working conditions on De Doorns farms spilled over.
Zimbabwean farmworkers in the camp said yesterday they had no idea why locals wanted to fight with them.
A 25-year-old married mother of a two-year-old boy said she was too scared to go to work at a nearby farm. At the end of the season, she said, she would return to Zimbabwe with her family.
Wendy Pekeur, secretary general of Sikula Sonke, an organisation representing the interests of farm labourers, said she and other members of the organisation first heard about the planned march while visiting locals in Stofland last weekend.
She said a white bakkie had been seen driving around with a man on the back making announcements with a loudhailer.
He had announced a local ANC meeting, to which residents were told they should bring their identity documents, and that they were to march on the refugee camp yesterday.
"He said they would be demand that the Zimbabweans leave the country," Pekeur said.
She could not identify the man with the loudhailer.
Breede Valley mayor Charles Ntsomi said he was aware of the announcement made in Stofland on Saturday afternoon, but that after investigating could confirm that the only announcement was about an ANC annual meeting to take place the following afternoon.
"I don't know why people are starting rumours," he said, adding that they wanted the Zimbabweans to live normal lives.
De Doorns police were also aware of the rumours, but said no protest march had taken place.
- Cape Argus
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