Africa-Press – Namibia. THE self-proclaimed chief of the San community in the Omaheke region, Joseph Gomoseb, has raised concern over sporadic cases of child labour at farms in the area.
Gomoseb told Desert Radio on Friday that most San children in the region are employed without payment at farms to look after livestock. He called on the government to intervene in the situation.
“But if the San people do something wrong, you will see the police coming to them with many cars and weapons. There is no respect for the San community from the government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate told Desert Radio on Friday that he has not received complaints of child labour involving the San community in his area.
“In general, the plight of farmworkers remains a bone of contention all over, and I cannot dispute nor confirm this, because no such thing has been reported to me about the San community being enslaved by the Ovaherero,” Nganate said.
He said the San community and the Ovaherero have coexisted for a long time. “If there are issues they still need to be brought to our attention,” he said.
Maharero Traditional Authority chief Tjinaani Maharero yesterday said he has not received any complaints about the San community being enslaved by the Ovaherero.
“If you’re looking for the San community you must look for them where the Ovaherero people live, as we live together and marry one another,” Maharero said. He said if members of the San community are being mistreated, the Maharero Traditional Authority is available for assistance.
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