Eastern Cape MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Xolile Nqata, had to abort a planned meeting with striking citrus workers in Addo on Wednesday.
According to his Chief of Staff, Andile Fani, strikers became violent and began throwing stones.
He said MEC Nqata had to be whisked away from the area.
“He aborted because they became violent. There was throwing of stones and objects and the MEC and the others addressing the crowd had to take cover and leave that space,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fani said the MEC would be meeting with employers.
He also said that government believes the workers are genuine.
“There’s a firm view that their demands are genuine as some of these relate to the Labour Relations Act on how people should be paid when they work over the weekend,” he said.
Fani said, “equally there’s an element when things are raised employers take a decision of appointing people that are coming from the neighbouring countries”.
He said “there’s a firm” view that if the two parties sit around the table they can come to a solution “that is meaningful to them”.
Fani described the situation as “tense”.
Police are meanwhile maintaining a strong presence in Addo and Kirkwood where strikers torched an orchard store and three tractors on Tuesday night.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Majola Nkohli, said three people were arrested on charges of “damaging or tampering with essential infrastructure”.
They will appear in court soon. Several other people have already appeared in court on charges of public violence related to the strike.
(Image from Tuesday night: Supplied)
