– A radio play about farm workers, by farm workers.
In South Africa, Radio broadcasting is still the preferred platform of the people over other mass media channels. Radio can reach the widest audience irrespective of class, income and other personal factors. It doesn’t take time away from the busy schedule of the working class, who don’t have a lot of leisure time to dedicate to watching media. Radio comes to you, be it in a home, in a taxi, in a factory, or from a small radio set that accompanies farm workers on their daily chores.
This is why members of CSAAWU, Botsoso Arts Collective and ILRIG came together to record this revolutionary play – created by the Farm workers to creatively address their problems and solutions, in a format that will best reach other farm workers that need to hear the message of resistance on the airwaves.
The play is performed in both English and Afrikaans – to appeal to the workers of Western Cape farms. There are three parts to the story created as separate episodes.
Part 1 – British Unionist meets the Farm Workers
Simon, a Union representative from the UK, comes to visit a South African Union. He meets the shops stewards who engage him in a lively dialogue about the similarities in their struggles and mutual experiences in successful organising.
The episode ends with a knock on the door. A union member Japhta arrives in distress. He’s just been accused of stealing grapes by the boss of the wine farm that employs him and where his family resides. Japhta fears persecution and asks the union for help.
Part 2 – Disciplinary enquiry
Mr Du Toit , the boss of Jafta’s farm has called a disciplinary enquiry about the alleged theft of grapes at night for private sale to spaza shops run by Somalis.
The procedure is attended by Mr Du Toit’s lawyer, a union representative stepping in for the accused, Japhta’s wife and boss’ right hand man Siza, who claims to have witnessed the crime.
The rude boss seems to have little interest in the legal proceedings, only his self righteous bias and loud racial prejudice towards his worker. His case is built on nothing but the statement by Siza, who turns out to be an unreliable witness due to being a drunk.
Mr Du Toit is disrespectful in the hearing and keeps shouting abuse at the accused, the union and everyone involved, demanding Jafta is fired and evicted. The dislike of Japhta seems to be a personal vendetta due to him bringing the union to the farm.
He tries to speed up the process. The hearing is adjourned till further notice.
Part 3 – The Illegal Eviction attempt.
Having failed at manipulating the legal system, the unsatisfied boss has called in the Red Ants to remove Jafta and his wife from their home. The Red Ants seem entirely inhumane as they demand that the family packs up and leave in 30 minutes, while Mr Du Toit tries to trick the couple with an unlawful eviction notice. Luckily Jafta knows his rights. He will not give up his family home that his boss has no claim over. He won’t back down, even when the police arrive.
He has the support of his union, who soon arrive on the scene, demanding the Red Ants leave. More and more members arrive in support, and the attempted eviction turns into a march, chanting: Land for the people! The People who love the land!
Listening to the play, one can really feel how close these scenarios are to the hearts of the performers, how well they know the suffering of the farmers and how much power they see in their union.
The script is realistic, energetic and engaging. It works perfectly with the voices of the talented individuals, all bringing their unique flavour and making the story their own. The long hours of rehearsing were well worth it, creating a truly unique piece of South African worker resistance theatre.
The play will be released on various community radio stations, Spotify and social media. Follow ILRIG for more details: www.ilrig.org.za
Script and direction:
Members of the cast:
Henry “Nols” van Wyk
Zann Manho
Denver Arendse
Eric Cornelius
Ellen Fortuin
Sune Brown
Ashura Easton
Redano Appies
Pearl Mupoperi
Actors – various members of CSAAWU.
Written and directed by Allan Kolski Horwitzof Botsoso Arts Collective, commissioned by ILRIG
Special thanks to Bertha House for the use of their recording studios and to Clement Nchabeleng for working closely with the team on the recording and editing the play.
