Home News Boshof worker allegedly assaulted by employer in Western Cape

Boshof worker allegedly assaulted by employer in Western Cape

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The employer allegedly dragged him alongside a vehicle by his neck and he sustained injuries to his right hand, head, neck and spine.

A 29-year-old Boshofworker says he is now “a broken man” after allegedly being assaulted by his employer. Picture: Supplied

The incident was reportedly triggered by a salary dispute.

A 29-YEAR-old worker has opened a case of common assault against his employer of 14 years at the Boshof police station after he was allegedly dragged from a vehicle on a farm near Cape Town.

The alleged incident happened on Friday, August 6 at a farm where the employee and eleven other workers from Boshof were working on the installation of an electric fence project.

The incident was reportedly triggered by a salary dispute.

The employee was admitted to Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein for injuries to his right hand, head, neck and spine.

The employee said the incident left him in a state where he was unable to even bath himself.

The Free State police have confirmed that a case of common assault was opened at the Boshof police station after the complainant was discharged from hospital.

According to the police, the case will be transferred to the Riversdale police for further investigation.

Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said that the complainant alleges that on August 6, 2021, at about 6pm, he was at Bosman farm near Cape Town with 11 other employees who are all from Boshof.

“They reportedly worked for two months without payment and they all decided not to work until they were paid,” said Makhele. “The owner of the company was called and on his arrival he told the complainant that he was drunk, but he (the complainant) responded that he was not drunk …

“The employer allegedly dragged him (alongside a vehicle) by his neck and he fell on the ground. He sustained injuries to his right hand, head, neck and spine.

“Then on August 8, 2021, at about 3pm, the employer came with a constable from Riversdale police station, who instructed them (the workers) to leave the farm. They left on the same day back to Boshof.”

“On August 9, 2021 he (the complainant) was admitted to hospital and when he was discharged he went to the Boshof SAPS to lay a charge of common assault, which will be transferred to the Riversdale police station where the matter will be investigated further.”

The injured employee said that he was left “a broken man” following the alleged assault by his employer, whom he said he had worked for for 14 years.

“He called me closer to accuse me and when I tried to explain he dragged my head towards him into the vehicle and stepped on the accelerator, dragging me for a few metres before hitting me with a fist and leaving me to fall,” the employee claimed.

“I have been working for him on all his projects that he was getting in different provinces over the years. It is really sad that he was prepared to leave me to die in the middle of nowhere, while he was aware that he caused the injuries and that we did not know anyone in the Western Cape. He did not even make an effort to get me to a public hospital and told us to vacate the farm.

“I am a broken man after having to arrive home in this state, where my wife had to take care of me after I arrived without a single cent. My children have nothing to eat, while I am even unable to bath myself.

“I have nothing to show for the many years I worked for him.”

Efforts to get comment from the employer were unsuccessful as his phone went unanswered.

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