South African Grape Farms Braced for New Wave of Wage Protests
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Farms in South Africa’s biggest table grape-growing region are preparing for a new wave of protests scheduled for tomorrow as workers repeat their demand for higher wages.
Workers have burnt down vineyards and sheds and caused damage estimated at 120 million rand ($13.6 million) since strikes began in the Western Cape province on Nov. 6, according to farmers’ group AgriSA. The farmworkers want a minimum wage of 150 rand a day, up from the current level of 70 rand.