The Grape-pickers

Western Cape

Linocut on paper
Norman Kaplan, 1997

The wine industry developed early in the colonial history of South Africa, first under the Dutch, who imported slaves, and then under subsequent British rule. While slavery was outlawed in 1807, a form of indenture existed until 1840. The capitalist system required access to cheap labour, and farmworkers’ lives were harsh. Under apartheid the ‘Tot’ system was used to pay workers in cheap wine, which led to severe alcoholism, often to foetal alcohol syndrome, and fractured families. Many years after the end of apartheid, wine farmworkers still need to engage from time to time in industrial action to improve their situation.

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