19/01/2026
"...A pesticide sprayer with 55 years of service at Denau Boerdery in De Doorns is challenging his dismissal at the CCMA after being fired for refusing to attend a pesticide safety training.
He refused the training because the farm failed to provide the legally required protective equipment, despite this being raised in a previous training. Management said proper chemical-resistant PPE was too expensive and instead issued a rain suit that is completely unsafe and inappropriate for spraying highly hazardous pesticides.
In August 2024,he was exposed to Dormex, a highly hazardous chemical. He suffered severe skin injuries, including inflamed rashes, oozing pus and skin peeling.
Although he reported this to management, he received no medical care and was forced to pay for treatment himself. His exposure was never registered as an occupational disease, denying him access to workers’ compensation.
Women on Farms Project argues that his dismissal was unlawful, as his refusal to attend the training was reasonable given the employer’s failure to protect his health and comply with the law. The case highlights the systemic abuse and exploitation of farm workers who are exposed to dangerous chemicals without protection, healthcare, or accountability from employers.
WFP are picketing outside Denau Boerdery today in order to highlight this gross injustice.
