Community members and workers protested outside Premier Foods' Tulbagh fruit canning plant as consultations over the proposed closure got underway.
In a dramatic showdown, workers, community members, and labour unions gathered outside Premier Foods' Tulbagh fruit canning plant on Thursday, voicing their outrage as Section 189 consultations commenced over the proposed closure of the facility.
The protest, which drew employees, local residents and organised labour, took place outside the plant while consultations began over the company's proposal to shut the facility. The planned closure has sparked growing concern over its potential impact on employment and agricultural production in the Cape Winelands.
In a statement, Cosatu Western Cape Secretary Malvern de Bruyn said the federation was "deeply shocked and outraged" by the proposed closure, particularly as Premier Foods chief executive Kobus Gertenbach is reported to receive a total remuneration of R26.1 million for the 2026 financial year, including a R17.4m bonus.
"This bizarre display of greed prioritises executive wealth over the livelihoods of workers and the economic survival of the Tulbagh community," De Bruyn said.
