Safety breaches temporarily halt construction at Haute Cabrière

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08-07-2025
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Paarl Post
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Construction work at the Haute Cabrière restaurant, part of the acclaimed wine estate in Franschhoek, was temporarily halted by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) last week following a site inspection that uncovered multiple health and safety violations.

However, according to Haute Cabrière spokesperson Tanja von Arnim, construction resumed on Monday (7 July), following the resolution of the department’s concerns by the preceding Sunday (6 July).

Von Arnmin stated that the wine farm is currently constructing a new reception area aimed at “enhancing both the restaurant and wine-tasting experience”.

According to a statement issued by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), inspectors from the department’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch served a prohibition notice during an unannounced blitz inspection, ordering an immediate suspension of all construction activities.

The enforcement formed part of a week-long, province-wide campaign focusing on compliance within the hospitality sector. The initiative aimed to ensure adherence to labour and occupational health and safety legislation.

David Esau, Provincial Chief Inspector for the Western Cape, led the inspection and cautioned contractors against prioritising profit over worker safety.

Fezeka Ngalo, the department’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Specialist, addressed workers on-site and outlined the infractions that led to the closure.

“These included the absence of a legally required health and safety file, employees operating without personal protective equipment, and the failure to formally notify the department about the construction activity,” she said.

Additionally, a subcontractor appointed by the principal contractor was unable to present a valid appointment letter which is another contravention of OHS regulations, according to the press release by the DEL.

“To start, Haute Cabrière would like to thank the Labour Department for upholding the rights and safety of workers, and we are thankful they have been able to support us in ensuring a safe environment. As an estate, we appointed top architects, engineers, and contractors with impeccable references and experience,” Von Armin said.

“[Haute Cabrière] worked with [a] team of professionals and the Labour Department to ensure that [the wine farm] complied and had all documents ready on [4 July] [which was] two days after the inspection. All paperwork was deemed satisfactory [on that day] from the Department and work has commenced.”

The department confirmed that the inspection formed part of a broader effort to monitor and enforce compliance with key legislation, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the National Minimum Wage Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), the Unemployment Insurance Act, and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA).

The Paarl Post contacted Fezeka Ngalo, spokesperson for the national DEL, for further comment, but no response was received.

The newspaper also asked Haute Cabrière if they are of the opinion that the labour inspectors’ grievances are valid, to which they said they “cannot comment”.