Community protests against Premier Foods' proposed closure of Tulbagh facility

Dramatic protests erupted outside Premier Foods' Tulbagh fruit canning plant on Thursday, as workers, community members, and labour unions expressed their outrage over the company's proposed closure of the facility. Section 189 consultations were underway, focusing on the potential job losses and economic impact on the Cape Winelands region.

Cosatu Western Cape Secretary Malvern de Bruyn condemned the decision as "deeply shocking and outrageous," pointing to the CEO's hefty compensation package of R26.1 million for the 2026 financial year, including a R17.4 million bonus. De Bruyn argued that prioritising executive wealth over worker livelihoods and the community's economic survival was unacceptable.

The proposed closure would put approximately 3,500 permanent and seasonal factory jobs and over 2,000 permanent farm worker jobs at risk, along with the livelihoods of around 200 commercial fruit producers and their suppliers. The plant processes up to 60,000 tonnes of fruit annually and purchases R300 million worth of produce from local farmers.

Cosatu alleged that Premier Foods would not honour existing three-year supply agreements with producers, leaving many farmers with unsold fruit after they had already invested in production. The federation accused the company of breaching conditions from its merger with RFG Holdings, which committed to not retrenching employees for three years.

De Bruyn warned that if the closure proceeded, Cosatu would escalate the matter through further community mobilisation and legal action. The federation urged Premier Foods to halt the consultation process, uphold supply contracts, and explore alternatives to closing the plant.

Stakeholders emphasized that the closure of a major fruit-processing facility could have far-reaching consequences for the Western Cape's economy, as the province's deciduous fruit industry is a significant employment provider in rural communities. Premier Foods had not commented on the story at the time of publication, and the Competition Commission was assessing complaints related to the proposed closure's compliance with merger conditions.