COPE slams morally bankrupt ANC government, embarrassess Agriculture Minister during Budget Vote
Congress of the People MP, Deidre Carter, today slammed the ANC as morally bankrupt and embarrassed the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery.
Carter stated that "the ANC government today is morally challenged. The government itself will have to own up to that, and if anyone on the other side of the House doesn't accept that, then it follows that they too are morally challenged."
This was followed by the shocking revelation that Konsortia Consultancy in a letter offered "Platinum Sponsors", at a nominal fee of R250 000, exclusive access to the Minister, a Government official. Similar access can be secured to the Directors General and their Deputies at a miniscule R100 000. Spuriously this money will go towards, according to Konsortia, funding the ANC's election campaign in the Western Cape, yet another clear indication that, for "the ANC it is all about money" and the continued erosion of the constitutionally enshrined party-state separation (see below).
Carter also highlighted suspected links of departmental staff to multi-million rand deals to purchase farms which have subsequently become virtually dormant.
COPE also commended "Toyota's new farmer of the year, Moses Gumede, on his achievements. This is truly an example of triumph in the face of adversity. Success stories like Moses' are few and far between. Government policy of "one farmer, one farm" will curb his potential. The DAFF can learn a lot from this man, if it is only willing to listen. Unfortunately, and it is nothing personal, we doubt that Moses would be willing to pay R250 000 for an audience with the Minister," Carter stated.
Carter questioned the minister on the Makhatini Cotton Gin that purchased by the Department from the Liquidators, arguing that the only ones that benefited were the administrators, and that this required an urgent investigation.
This farming project involved 1 300 ha of irrigation cotton providing jobs and livelihood to some 21 000 people. At the height of operations 3 000 tons of cotton lint was produced annually. This figure has dropped to a mere 104 tons in the 2010/2011 marketing season, the smallest crop since 1960.
Carter reminded the minister that cotton production, especially in Makhathini, has the potential to create roughly 5 jobs per ha with a strong multiplying effect. For every one job in the primary production of cotton 10 jobs are sustained in the downstream value adding activities.
Carter highlighted a number of key issues facing the department, including the impact of natural disasters, predators on livestock, the exodus of commercial farmers and the food security of South Africa. Carter further argued for workable, realistic and implementable targets.
Full speech on Budget Vote follows below. A copy of the Konsortia letter:
CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE
BUDGET VOTE: AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & FISHERIES
MS. DEIDRE CARTER, MP
19 APRIL 2011
Chairperson,
The headline in one of South Africa's most widely read weekend papers screamed "It's a disgrace". The spotlight, once again, was being put on yet another ANC leader who had lost his moral compass.
The ANC government today is morally challenged. The government itself will have to own up to that. If anyone on that side of the House doesn't accept that, then it follows that they too are morally challenged.
I am raising the issue of moral conduct because the thinking that prevails in the upper echelons of the ANC is shocking millions of South Africans who expected government to carry forward the remarkable legacy of Mandela. Clearly this is not happening.
Against the context I have sketched, it comes as yet another shock to me to read a letter from Konsortia Consultancy to business people. According to Konsortia, a so called "Platinum Sponsor", writing out a cheque of R250 000 to the ANC for electioneering purposes in the WC, will have "exclusive time with the Minister during the course of a Gala Dinner".
This is what it has come to. If this isn't influence peddling, what is it? Does this mean that the affected 3000 Cotton Farmers from the Makhatini flats need to pay a ¼ of a million rand for every 7 to get the Minister's attention?
Belief in the credibility of this government is so low that debate and the 7 minutes allocated to COPE is reduced to a farce. With the ANC it is all about money. Redistribution of farms in democratic South Africa is a worthy goal. Transformation is an absolute necessity.
In particular, will the Minister, as a matter of priority, inform this House who are the respective owners of the following farms in the NW and whether they have directly or indirectly any links to Governmental Department staff?
- 1. Remainder of the Farm Mellville, 175 IP in extent 1097.6359 hectares, purchased for R8,5million,
- 2. Remainder of the farm Section 1, Block C, 2nd railway Grant No4 JM, 15 214 hectares, purchased for R18.25 million.
- 3. Portions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the farm Quaggablatt 781,
My sources informs me that very little is happening on these farms.
In 1986 het SA ongeveer 70 000 kommersiele boere gehad wat 1.2 miljoen werks geleenthede geskep het.
In 1993 het SA 58 000 kommersiele boere gehad met ongeveer 1.1 miljoen werkgeleenthede. In 2007 het hierdie syfer drasties gedaal na ongeveer 40 000 met werks geleenthede onder 800 000. Hierdie tuimeling gaan steeds voort met 50 miljoen monde wat van voedsel verskaf moet word.
Boere verlaat SA vir sekerheid en beter wetgewing. Die Minister se opsomming dat Boere die land verlaat as gevolg van die feit dat hulle hul boerderye uitbrei is slegs a droom wat in ‘n nagmerrie gaan ontaard wanneer ons kyk na voedsel sekeheid. 50 Boere is reeds gevestig in Kongo en gister alleenlik het nog 24 Boere vertrek. Die Regering moet ‘n billikke omgewing en beleids raamwerk skep. Die hoë koste van elektrisiteit, belasting en die onsekerheid gaan daartoe lei dat ons hierdie Boere nooit weer sal sien nie.
On Discovery channel work on an Oil rig was rated the most dangerous job in the world. The 2nd most dangerous job in the world was reported as Farming in South Africa due to the amount of Farm murders that does not only affect the deceased's family but everyone employed on that farm.
Vee diefstal in SA kos die Boer en die Ekonomie ongeveer 390 miljoen rand per jaar. ‘n Groter splinter in die oog van voedselsekerheid is roofdiere wat die ekonomie en die boer oor ‘n miljard rand per jaar kos. Om ‘n voorbeeld te gee, die Departement van Omgewingsake in die Noord Kaap het 7 amptenare in diens met geen begroting om roofdiere te bestry nie.
COPE voel dat die Departement van Landbou ‘n senior amptenaar moet aan stel en ‘n begroting beskikbaar maak vir die effektiewe bestreiding van roofdiere soos jakkals en rooi kat. Teen die passie wat ons nou aan gaan gaan daar geen kleinvee en klein vee boere in SA oorbly nie. Daar is ongeveer 4500 opkomende skaap boere in Suid Afrika. Skaap boerdery is die kern steen in die voormalige Transkei en Ciskei.
The National wool growers association is successfully assisting to improve the quality of the stock. Commercial farmers make 3200 rams per annum available to assist emerging farmers. The EC Department offers a 5 million budget per annum.
There is a urgent need for the Minister to review this budget.
Farming around the world is continuing to strive for economies of scale. This means fewer, but bigger farms producing at a lower cost. This is what SA is competing against. COPE believes in the need to encourage small scale farmers to become commercial in their own rights. They need to form cooperatives in order to become competitive.
Government also has to educate the nation's farmers about the use of mycorrhizae. The fungi reduces water consumption and decrease fertiliser use. Is this being done Minister? I would be shocked if it wasn't?
COPE would also like to see more bilateral agreements being implemented. Food security needs to become a regional strategy. Government needs to come to the party.
COPE would like to commend Toyota's new farmer of the year, Moses Gumede, on his achievements. This is truly an example of triumph in the face of adversity. Success stories like Moses' are few and far between. Government policy of "one farmer, one farm" will curb his potential.
Moses does not own the land that he farms on. He is only able to attain short-term leases. He is concerned for the well-being of his family.
COPE urge the DAFF to take note of his excellent example as illustration of the potential of sustainable and cooperative agricultural practices. The DAFF can learn a lot from this man, if it is only willing to listen. Unfortunately, and it is nothing personal, we doubt that Moses would be willing to pay R250 000 for an audience with the Minister."
Chairperson, according to the Minister, the aim of DAFF is to create 300 000 jobs in smallholder schemes by 2015 and 145 000 jobs in agro-processing by 2020.
How attainable are these targets?
What happened to the 10 000 new farmers that would have been established on 5 million hectares of land nearly 3 years ago?
What happened to the Makhatini Cotton Gin that was purchased by the Department from the Liquidators? The only ones that benefited, and this requires urgent investigation, was the Administrators.
This farming project involved 1300 ha of irrigation cotton providing jobs and livelihood to some 21 000 people! At the height of operations 3 000 tons of cotton lint was produced annually. This figure has dropped to a mere 104 tons in the 2010/2011 marketing season, the smallest crop since 1960.
Cotton production especially in Makhathini has the potential to create roughly 5 jobs per ha with a strong multiplying effect. For every one job in the primary production of cotton 10 jobs are sustained in the downstream value adding activities. It is disturbing that the Minister requested a cost estimate to revitalise the project almost a year ago and to date no action was taken.
The Department needs workable, realistic and implementable targets.
The NGP envisions 500 000 jobs to be created from Agriculture. This includes the 145 000 jobs in agro-processing.
The Department would need to create almost 15 000 new jobs per year over the next 10 years in agro-processing.
How will the department achieve this target? Which skill-levels are being targeted? What life-span for these jobs are we looking at?
Chairperson, in 2011 we have experienced and witnessed the power of natural disasters. The effect of which will impact on the worlds ability to produce. Back home, floods have caused damages and droughts have threatened the livelihood of so many. What happened to the empty promises made by the Minister in respect of relief to flood victims in the Northern Cape. A food parcel is not enough!
Furthermore, one can be forgiven for believing that we are under attack, not from some foreign nation, but from diseases. We are still seeing reported cases of Rift Valley Fever, Foot and Mouth diseases has broken out in the country. Cases of the West Nile Virus have been reported in the Western Cape and Grey leaf spot reported in the North West.
It boils down to the increased challenges faced with producing effectively.
We can no longer sit by and continue using resources as if there is no tomorrow. Agriculture has a meaningful role to play in the green economy.
Chairperson, let me turn my attention to the budget of the Department. DAFF received and allocation of R4.7bn for the 2011/12 financial year.
The Department has conceded that it is experiencing skills and capacity challenges. DAFF has more than 700 vacancies of which 60% are in the highly skilled supervisory and production roles. Yet the Department boasts about R1 million saving over the Medium Term on Training and Development. Surely the Department should be able to utilise the money constructively?
From the Agricultural Production, Health and Food Safety Programme, R326 million will be allocated to the Animal Production and Health sub-programme for the introduction of compulsory veterinarian community service. COPE welcomes this practice as currently many of our graduates leave our shores and apply their trade elsewhere. We need however for the Minister to give more detail on how this programme will function.
Chairperson, I briefly touched on the small scale farmers. Allow me to elaborate. Much more needs to be done. Allow me to give an example. Nduvhumwo Nyambeni is an avocado farmer in the Limpopo province. Products that are produced in conjunction with Westfalia are of the highest standards. Companies like Woolworths are buying the produce. Other small scale farmers have the same potential. However they face several challenges.
Access to markets are a big problem, as well as high-cost supply chain. Dumping from foreign states threatens the livelihood of these farmers. Local farmers receive little or no support from Government and must compete with highly subsidised produce. Government needs to assist these farmers in subsidising some of their fixed costs and assist someone like Nduvhumwo to expand his operations. There are many examples like these.
I Thank you
Statement issued by Deidre Carter, MP, Congress of the People, April 19 2011
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