Sean Hoatson, the CEO of Normandien Farms, said the group has laid criminal charges against MPs for crimen injuria and racism. This followed an unannounced visit by the MPs, accompanied by armed police officers, to Normandien Farms last month.

Members of this committee were on an oversight of departmental operations in the Amajuba district. 

BusinessTech reports that Normandien Farms is the district’s largest employer and includes Thirsti, which produces bottled water and sports drinks.

Normandien Farms and Thirsti have 3 000 employees and a spotless compliance record. The Department of Employment & Labour released a statement saying it was a joint inter-department team visit to the farm.

It said the visit included people from the Inspection & Enforcement Services and the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour.

‘During the visit, there was muted resistance to co-operation. The farm owners were warned of their actions and later relented and allowed the inspection,’ it said.

However, Hoatson said a group of approximately 50 unidentified individuals arrived at the property ‘unannounced’ in 10 SUVs and did not comply with safety or foot-and-mouth disease protocols.

He said they intimidated and overran security.

When security refused them entrance, they were threatened with arrest by the police.

He said that no introduction, identification, or letter of appointment was shown or offered by the group.

Hoatson added that lawmakers verbally abused senior staff members of the employer.

He described the group’s visit to his farm as a hostile, unauthorised inspection intended for social media likes rather than for actual legal compliance.

Full BusinessTech report