NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 773
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES:
Dr C P Mulder (FF PLUS) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
QUESTION
(1) (a) Which criteria were used to determine if the Black Association of Wine and Spirits Industry (BAWSI) qualifies for financial contributions, (b) what was the objective for which the funds were provided and (c) which measuring instruments were used to determine if BAWSI achieved the objectives for which the funds were provided;
(2) whether she has found that the Governments objectives with the donation of funds to BAWSI were achieved through the organisations ‘usage of the funds; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW984E
REPLY:
1 (a) Which criteria were used to determine if the Black Association of Wine and Spirits Industry (BAWSI) qualifies for financial contributions:
(a) BAWSI is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), all NGOs qualify for any form of government support. In this case BAWSI has been working among farm workers over a period of time and needed support in ensuring that its work becomes sustainable. The criteria that was used for this particular funding was the proposal they submitted to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in terms of what they want to do among farm workers.
(b) What was the objective for which the funds were provided:
The objective to which funds were provided was to enable BAWSI to implement the plan of empowering farm workers in the Western Cape which the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was happy with and had approved. Furthermore the objective was for BAWSI to assist DAFF in addressing issues raised in the damning human rights watch report on the appalling working conditions of farm workers in the Western Cape released in 2011.
(c) Which measuring instruments were used to determine if BAWSI achieved the objectives for which the funds were provided:
In terms of Service Level Agreement (SLA) signed between BAWSI and DAFF, BAWSI reports to DAFF on quarterly basis. The reports submitted indicate that BAWSI is indeed achieving the objectives for which the funds were provided. Such objectives include but are not limited to training and empowerment of farm workers, medical and legal support to farm workers were necessary promotion of the interest of farm workers mobilization of other role players who may provide support to farm workers liaison with government and private sector organisations on behalf of farm workers.
2. Whether she has found that the Governments objectives with the donation of funds to BAWSI were achieved through the organisations ‘usage of the funds; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW984E
The SLA signed between BAWSI and DAFF is over a period of two years commencing in mid 2012. This means that the SLA is currently in force it will therefore be premature to conclude whether or not the objectives for which the funds were given have been met.
However it can be stated with certainly that thus far based on the reports submitted BAWSI is moving in the right directions. One other good role which BAWSI played well which has never been part of the SLA signed between DAFF and itself is how the NGO assisted in organising farm workers towards calmness and constructive engagements during the strikes which broke on the 1st November 2012.
Issued by Parliament, May 13 2013
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