« October 2, 2014
EAST CAPE TO BE A
FOOD SECURE PROVINCE
“History will judge us harshly if we do not respond to the needs of our province”, Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agragrian Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said at a stakeholders breakfast in Port Elizabeth last week. “EC must reclaim its position by working with stakeholders and moving forward and it is my duty to flourish this engagement”, he said. The gathering was a full force of relevance and stakeholders identified by government included Community gardens, NWGA, BKB, ECACON, NMBM Chamber of Commerce, Black Business Council and the Council of Churches and they were all in agreement that agriculture is the backbone of the economy.
The general manager for the National Woolgrowers Association, Mr. Leon de Beer presented the challenges of communal farmers to government and seeking the revival of the partnership with DRDAR. “NWGA can identify farmers who already farm successfully with wool in the communal areas of EC. These farmers should be considered as potential beneficiaries for land reform. Let us revive the partnership with DRDAR and provide training- and mentorship support to these farmers to make this happen”. For a number of years, the NWGA has been involved in the training of youth by providing them with an annual internship at the NWGA and exposing them to various aspects of the wool industry. Most of the interns were employed permanently even before completion of their internship at institutions such as BKB and other.
The extension of the genetic improvement programme is also a priority, said Andile Ndzendze, vice chairman of the East Cape NWGA who regarded infra-structure and quality rams for genetic improvement of flocks as priorities for emerging- and communal wool sheep producers. “This is the only way to speed up economic freedom”, he said.
The MEC recently initiated the Lim’Khaya family food garden club and the intention of Community gardens is to make use of any unused land or lawns and turn it into gardens where people harvest from their own gardens. Another important role player is the Council of Churches, who was grateful for the opportunity to be part of the meeting, because Churches have the responsibility to transform society and meeting the basic needs of people. The chairman prompted all stakeholders to consider using the Council of Churches as medium for providing scholarships and bursaries, because they have access to the poorest of the poor.
Agriculture is also the focus of BKB, where 90% of their shareholding is held by farmers and agricultural groupings, of which 15% is held by emerging farmers. There are also established key BEE projects, which is proof of BKB’s commitment to transformation. “BKB also provides various forms of support to emerging farmers”, said Mr. Steven Dondol, Director of BKB.
“Considering bad publicity and economic figures, the Eastern Cape tend to sit on a resource that they seemingly do not understand and appreciate, therefore the province is trailing behind”, said Mr. Leon Coetzee, deputy director-general of the department. He highlighted the aims of the DRDAR, which is sector transformation, whereby food security plays a huge part He also emphasized the importance of looking at the overall strategy as well as economic growth. He invited stakeholders to indicate how they will spend the R200m budget for agricultural projects. The department has identified 10 commodities based on their natural resources and what the department is requesting from their commodity “partners in work” is continuous engagement, planning and research that needs to be done that will benefit farmers.
GESKENK AAN SKUILING
‘n Onderneming op die dorp, bekend as “Hollywood Bets” het ‘n reuse skenking aan die plaaslike Vukasebenza Skuiling gemaak.
Volgens Nontsho Msutu, woordvoerder van “Hollywood Bets” is dit hulle beginsel om elke jaar een tiende van geld wat hulle insamel, aan liefdadigheid te skenk. Verskeie welsynsorganisasies word genomineer en vanjaar was dit die Skuiling se beurt om te deel.
Geskenke ter waarde van meer as R8000-00, wat onder meer ‘n yskas, mikrogolfoond, gasstoof, twee stelle eetgerei, twee stelle breekware, twee strykysters, twee elektriese ketels, twee broodroosters, ‘n groot braaipan en verskeie pakke breiwol en –penne, insluit, is oorhandig.
Volgens Gussie Botha, bestuurder van die Skuiling, is hulle verheug oor die skenking en kan sy Hollywood Bets” nie genoeg bedank vir die groot skenking nie. Sy het hulle verseker dat dit baie waardeer word en ten volle gebruik sal word ten behoewe van die wat minder bevoorreg is.
WATER EN SANITASIE OP CRADOCK
Cradock se Sakeforum, in samewerking met Afri-forum, het die eerste rondte oor die buiten-sporige prysverhogings vir water en sanitasie teen Chris Hani Distriksmunisipaliteit gewen.
Volgens Charles Feather-stonehaugh, voorsitter van die Sakeforum, is die nuwe sanitasieheffing inderdaad laer as wat die heffing in 2013 was. Waar die gemiddelde huishouding verlede jaar ongeveer R74-00 per maand betaal het, sal daar nou slegs ongeveer R59-00 per maand gehef word.
Volgens lede van die Sakeforum is hulle verheug oor hierdie oorwinning wat namens die inwoners van Cradock bereik kon word, maar is die stryd nog steeds nie gewonne nie. Regshulp is teen groot koste ingewin om Cradockers te help met hul teekanting teen die onbekostigbare verhoging van waterta-riewe en die feit dat Chris Hani distriksmunisipaliteit die voorsiening van water aan inwoners van Cradock wil wegneem onder beheer van Inxuba Yethemba Munisipaliteit uit.
Cradock – Jakkalskop ontwikkeling
Middelburg – Kunstefees trek ‘n ander baadjie aan
Cradock – Pink Lady Gholfkompetisie