The circumstances surrounding the heat exhaustion that claimed the lives of seven farm workers in the Northern Cape last week remain unclear but FreshPlaza has been able to confirm that the deceased were from four different grape farms in the Kakamas and Augrabies area.
Madalene Spangenberg of Groenheuwel Boerdery says that one female employee of Groenheuwel was taken to hospital where she passed away last week. They have been cooperating with the Department of Labour investigating the incident.
"There is no evidence that she passed away from heat exhaustion because no autopsy was done," she says, adding that other health problems had been present in the victim.
She reiterates that their employees in the vineyards (they are currently harvesting raisin grapes) have ample access to water and shade and start work early to avoid the hottest part of the day.
FreshPlaza has attempted to contact some of the three other farms.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation last week reported that seven farmworkers on grape farms in Augrabies had died of heat exhaustion following a prolonged heatwave in the Northern Cape. Two are reportedly still in hospital.
The table grape harvest in the Orange River Valley already ended two weeks ago and 95% of seasonal workers have gone home.
"The Orange River area has for the past 12 days been caught up in extreme heatwave conditions," says a grape grower of the area. "Loadshedding [frequent power cuts] contributes to the discomfort because cooling systems and, most importantly, water supply is being hampered."
Vineyards along the Orange River, Northern Cape
The South African Table Grape Industry has said in a press release: “At present we are not in possession of the full details related to the said events, including whether impacted Agri-workers are from the table grape sector. These are tragic circumstances and on behalf of the table grape industry, we extend sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the Agri-workers who have been lost."
The industry body has reiterated its commitment to safe and humane working conditions for those employed in the table grape sector.
On their Northern Cape grape farms, explains a table grape grower in the area, sending out picking teams when temperatures are over 34°C is, in fact, an offence for which a manager can be fired.
Table grape producers say that they had been giving extra attention to provide adequate water stations for employees, as well as sun hats and suncream.
On some Orange River grape farms the harvest starts at 4am until 11am or noon, and resume at sunset until 7pm or 8pm. On other farms, pickers with head lamps enter the vineyards at midnight and work until morning.
Some Northern Cape farms harvest grapes at night to avoid unbearably hot daytime temperatures
“We never work in the heat of the day. You just can’t do it,” says another Kakamas grape grower.