Hundreds of workers at the Festive Chicken processing plant in Olifantsfontein, Gauteng, began a strike on 29 October 2026, demanding a minimum monthly wage of R13,500, medical aid benefits, and safer working conditions following a deadlock in wage negotiations at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
The company, operating under Astral Foods, reported that approximately 400 of the more than 2,500 employees were participating in the strike. Astral Foods attributed the industrial action to a refusal-to-bargain dispute with the Simunye Workers Forum (SWF), a body it does not recognise as a trade union.
In contrast, workers claim the strike reflects broader dissatisfaction with low wages, unsafe workplaces, and lack of medical benefits. “We are here as workers to demand R13,500 [a month]. We have earned it,” said Nomasonto Ncwane, a Festive Chicken employee speaking to GroundUp.
On 30 October 2026, the Labour Court confirmed the workers’ right to participate in a protected strike, ordering the company not to discipline or dismiss any striking employees for their participation.
Despite ongoing protests outside the Olifantsfontein plant, talks remain deadlocked. Joshua Hlungwani of the SWF told eNCA: “Workers will continue protesting until an agreement is reached.” Workers are also calling for proper personal protective equipment and safer working conditions amid reports of dust exposure and inadequate clothing for cold room workers, though these claims remain unverified by independent sources.
Astral Foods warned that the R13,500 wage demand would be “unaffordable and could threaten jobs,” signalling ongoing tensions between management and the striking workers. The company highlighted that the dispute was with the SWF rather than an officially recognised trade union, complicating negotiation efforts.
Festive Chicken’s Olifantsfontein plant is a significant production facility, reportedly processing millions of chickens weekly, making the strike’s impact potentially far-reaching for supply chains and food prices across South Africa.
The exact number of striking workers remains disputed, with figures provided by the company and worker representatives varying. Workers report earning between R5,400 and R6,500 monthly, which they say justifies their wage demands, although these earnings have not been independently verified.
The strike continues as workers maintain their demands and the company weighs its options amid pressure from both the workforce and the wider poultry market. The Labour Court’s ruling protects striking workers, but no resolution has yet been reached.
Further developments are expected as the negotiations resume or escalate. The Cape Flats reporter will continue monitoring the situation closely.