Big shit at the big T

Big story about the Grooms being treated badly with accommodation and facilities at Turffontein, seemingly the health minister pitched up and action being taken ..

Whoa, Jayes is going to be on his warhorse...

Mac wrote: Whoa, Jayes is going to be on his warhorse...

Maybe he has had a valid point all along!

I think he always had a valid point...what did happen with the money provided by the provincial government for groom's accommodation ??

rob faux wrote:

Mac wrote: Whoa, Jayes is going to be on his warhorse...

Maybe he has had a valid point all along!

Have you ever been to the grooms quarters at Summerveld, the conditions are not great for people who do so much for the industry they really deserve to be treated better just my opinion

I'm shore larry and Vee will let the grooms stay at there house till every thing is sorted out.

Craig P, I have been into that housing area, alone, with my grooms and the management on occasions over 1000 times. When I first got there they were terrible but a lot of money was spent on every housing unit and they were re painted, plumbing,electrics and washing areas were refurbished and it looked very good. I don't think the maintenance stops in the area as everyday there are showers, electrics, toilets etc being fixed after being broken the day before. Some grooms keep their rooms in lovely condition and some just could not careless. Pat Coles in conjunction with Gold Circle have put in a store/eating area/ beer hall/tote with food, drinks DSTV, pool machines, ATM machine, soccer games and flat screen TV's for them to use. Not a bad place to live at all.

From the Sowetan, think there is a press release to come


LIVING IN Squalor AT RACECOurse

2 toilets for 400 people

Zoë Mahopo

GROOMS at one of South Africa’s top racecourses are forced to live in squalid and shocking conditions – far worse than those occupied by the racehorses.

The 400 workers at Johannesburg’s Turffontein Racecourse share one tiny shack in groups of more than five people and utilise only two toilets.

Some sleep on beds made from wooden boards balanced on buckets, others on the concrete cement floor, while some have sponges.

The grooms say they work long hours, are not given protective clothing and start their day as early as 3.30am to get the horses ready for training.

Yesterday, they protested outside the racecourse, holding placards after a visit by an inspector from the Gauteng department of labour following a complaint by the South African Grooms Association (Saga) four weeks ago.

Saga national chairman Chophelikha Simoto said horse grooms all over the country were forced to live under squalid conditions.

Simoto blamed Phumelela Gaming & Leisure for ignoring the terrible conditions workers were subjected to.

“We are not happy with what is happening. We need assistance from the government on this,” Simoto said.

He said crammed living conditions increased the risk of diseases.

Bongani Khumalo, who appeared to be gravely ill, was found lying on his bed of wooden boards.

His colleagues said they had tried to seek help from management to no avail.

Khumalo had yellow pus flowing from his ears. He tried to stand up and walk but almost fell. His body shaking violently, Khumalo could not speak and was finally taken away by an ambulance.

“When a horse gets sick or injured it’s a big deal. But when we get injured no one cares. This is not a place for people to live,” Steven Mnyandi, one of the workers, said.

“We are paid as little as R300 a week, but we groom these horses that make millions. It is a hard life, but we are desperate for work.”

Rian du Plessis, CEO of Phumelela, which runs the horse betting business, said the grooms are employed by trainers.

“Grooms are vitally important to our sport. Even though the grooms are not employed by us we take all matters relating to grooms very seriously. I have asked our executive in charge of racing, Patrick Davis, to urgently look into this matter and report back to me.”

The Department of Labour had not responded at the time of going to print.

A shameful situation if this is true. The blame game will start now between Phumelela and the trainers. Living in a 400 communal is no fraternity.

I hope Julius is busy protesting in Parliament as this is the type of thing that the EFF will ride long and hard until the next election(but many Grooms are foreign so they might not bother as no votes to glean)- Either way if it is true then the Trainers are responsible as the Grooms work for them not Phumelela(I presume Phum provide the accommodation but the payment of R300 per week is very very poor) - A very bad reason to get into the newspapers !!

Will this hinder the it`s a rush campain?

Thanks for update Craig glad to hear that the grooms are being looked after in KZN, was there a few years back and wasn't impressed now tvl needs to come to the party