AG must probe Fetsa Tlala's R2 billion appropriation without a plan 

3 September 2014

The DA will write to the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA), Kimi Makwetu, to investigate the publicly estimated R2 billion rand budgetary allocation to the Fetsa Tlala programme of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) for the past financial year. 

Fetsa Tlala has received an enormous budgetary allocation, with very little to show for it. Most worryingly, it has no concrete plan and has requested an additional R11.4 billion without any clear explanation of what it will do with the money. 

The Department submitted a 2014/15 Production Plan of what it wishes to do, but is not aligned with DAFF's Annual Performance Plan (APP), Strategic Plan nor its Agricultural Policy Action Plan (APAP). The Production Plan lacks a Marketing Strategy, Model for Delivery, Communication and Reporting Framework, Risk Management Strategy or even a Monitoring and Evaluation plan and this highlights the lack of coordination and collaboration within DAFF and between DAFF and its entities.

The Department has indicated that an estimated R11.4 billion is required over the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) period to be able to achieve the target of putting 1 million hectares under cultivation by 2019. However, there is no explanation on what the R11.4 billion is based on and how it will be utilised over the 5-year period.

We call on the Minister of DAFF, Senzeni Zokwana, to review the efficacy of the Fetsa Tlala programme; we want a comprehensive plan to be presented before the Portfolio Committee on DAFF to ensure the programmes' objectives are met. 

During the election, this programme was shamelessly used to channel resources in support of the ANC by printing yellow t-shirts that included a large picture of Jacob Zuma's face. It also included the ANC's election campaign slogan. 

We continue to believe that this programme is being abused for political purposes and will not rest until a full account of what has happened with the Fetsa Tlala money has been given. In the meantime, we will certainly not support a further increase in the programme's allocation without any clear plans on what the money will be spent on. 

Statement issued by Annette Steyn MP, DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, September 3 2014

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