PFA calls for justice after farm worker assaulted and badly injured by farm owner’s son!

“I am going to break your skull!”- These were harsh words uttered by the son of the farm owner in Paul Roux, Dihlabeng after assaulting the defenceless farm worker, Frikkie Mofokeng.

It is alleged that Harrison Scheepers, son of one of the Free State’s wealthiest farmers, Gillie Scheepers, vigorously attacked the farm labourer earlier this year in January 3, when he launched an unprovoked assault on him
with an iron rod and broke his arm.

“He picked up an iron rod on top of a pick-up truck and attempted to hit me on the head with it. I blocked it with my arm which just broke into two pieces,” said Mofokeng.

After breaking the victim’s arm, Harrison apologised.

Following this attack, Mofokeng called the Paul Roux police, and upon their arrival on the scene of the assault, they drove him from the farm to the N5 freeway where they asked him to hitch a lift to a hospital in Bethlehem.

The agitated Mofokeng said he didn’t know know as of why the police’s attitude was so callous by not calling an ambulance for a patient that was in severe pain.

The perpetrator was arrested and charged with assault to have caused grievous body harm.

He was later released on bail of R5 000.

Mofokeng said he is no longer himself post this attack. “I can’t work, I can’t do anything as a result of this broken arm, I can’t even lift a 5-litre container”, he said with bitterness reflected in his facial expression and soft voice.

The Patriotic Front of Azania (PFA) has since called for justice to to be served against the farmer’s son for his misconduct towards their employee, who has been serving the family for over past seven years.

“PFA hereby publicly appeals to the government through the Department of Labour as well as the South African Human Rights Commission to take a major step to assist Mofokeng,” said PFA’s founding president Johnny Maseko in a statement shared with Kasi Voice News.

“Mofokeng’s arm has been joined together by doctors at the Bohlokong Hospital in Bethlehem using bolts but he says the pain is unbearable. He is still in plasters,” stressed Maseko.

“At the end of January, Paul Roux police accompanied him to collect his R 4 100 monthly salary.

“In February, he approached the Department of Labour’s regional office in Bethlehem for assistance in collecting his pay from Scheepers.

“Mr Scheepers’ response was a flat refusal to pay the February salary claiming Mr Mofokeng did not work for him during that month. MR Scheepers rubbed salt in Mr Mofokeng’s injury by refusing to pay his salary when 28-year old employee has a family to look after.

“Mofokeng is a married man and has two children aged 2 and 5 years.

“The five-year old is already attending school in the Fateng Tse Ntsho township where Mofokeng has relocated after the attack,” a statement read.

The PFA said it is on this common ground they deem for Mofokeng’s matter to be taken with serious caution,

“This constitutes as unfair dismissal, because the employer’s son has made intolerable if not impossible for him to work or stay on the farm,” said the party.

“PFA is in the process of helping Mr Mofokeng to file a case of unfair dismissal with the CCMA,” addressed Maseko.