Provincial Spokesperson on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Land Administration and Environmental Affairs
Budget Debate: Agriculture, Rural Development, Land
Administration
and Environmental Affairs
The Debat delivered in the Mpumalanga
and Environmental Affairs
In the words of John Salazar, “I have always said there is only
one thing that can bring our nation down - our dependence on foreign countries for food and energy. Agriculture is the backbone
of our economy.”
The
department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs
now commands a budget of over a billion
rand. One would expect sound financial management from the department in
control of such a huge budget, but sadly, as in most
other departments, this is not the case. As the Democratic Alliance we can only
plead to the ANC government to sort out the internal
greed, and start with the fostering of the political will to make departments
like agriculture work.
DA said MEC, in your APP, the department states that in this
financial year, the department will prioritize the up scaling of Masibuyele
Emasimini and Asibuyele Esibayeni
programmes.
“How is the department going to upscale these projects when
programme 3, received R 26 million less, than it did in the previous financial year. With less funds than in the past, the department plans to do
more than in the past.” DA asked.
DA told the MEC that instead of conducting sound financial
management, this department has instead decided to allocate 45.47% of its
budget, towards compensation of employees.
That’s almost half a billion rand just on salaries. No, that just doesn’t sound
right, that can’t be right.
DA said, “While the
department is busy channelling funds to their employees, they remain mum on the
progress regarding the Fresh Produce Market. We have been hearing the promise
of this market for years now, but still there is no sign of the project
implemented.”
The proper establishment of
this project holds great economic potential for the province, and it is of high
concern that the department chose
to work with the worst government parastatal in the establishment
of this market.
“MEC, your
department needs to distance this project
from MEGA, or at least explain the different roles that your
department and MEGA will be playing in this project.” DA said.
· Ongelukkig
is MEGA nie die enigste struikelblok in die vooruitgang van Department Landbou
nie.
· Die totale
afwesigheid van kwaliteit mentorskap vir opkomende boere is nog ‘n hindernis.
· Die
korrupsie in Gemeenskaplike Grondeienaars Assosiasies dra by tot enorme kommer.
· Die feit
dat verhoudings met georganiseerde landbou nie geprioritiseer word nie is ‘n
problem, en
· Die warm
patat van gemeenskplike land en grondeienaarskap is ook nog daar.
· Daar is nog
vele elemente wat dryfsand vir die department kan
Die department moet dit werklik ‘n prioriteit maak om opkomende
boere te ondersteun. Statistieke wys dat kommersiele boere in Suid-Afrika
verminder het vanaf 100 000 tot a skamele 36 000, in die
afgelope 15 jaar het. Hierdie dalende kurwe moet stop. Kommersiele boerderye is
die anker van voedel sekuriteit in Suid-Afrika. Elke lid van
hierdie wetgewer kan
vanoggend: Bedank die plaaseienaar en die plaaswerker”
Die Department sal ook spoedig moet kyk na die doen en late van
(GGA’s) Gemeenskaplike Grondeienaars Assosiasies. Daar is talle
voorbeelde van korrupsie, waar die lede van ‘n GGA nie bestendig
bepaal kan
dat daar gevalle is waar bemiddelaars wat deur die department
gestuur is om die situasie te beredder, dit juis uitbyt, om self munt daaruit
te slaan.
Let us be clear on Land issue. The DA supports the distribution
of land to emerging farmers as well as compensating people for land they forcefully removed from, by the Apartheid
government. But there should be a clear distinction between land used for the production of food, and residential land.
In 20 years
off this administration. The department has failed to conduct a comprehensive
land audit. Such an audit would seek to find out
how much land is in the hands of South Africans, (and what race they are)
foreigners, and government. It’s quite baffling to think that this administration has been developing policies on land reform,
yet have no idea what the status quo is. In order for one to reach desired
targets,
one needs
to collect data, analyse that data and create a picture about the present. Only
once that done, one can develop a strategy to reach
the set objectives.
DA says this department has a long list of issues that have
continued to plague political head after political head. The DA is here to
assist in
any way possible, but the road towards improvement starts
internally. The department needs to practise efficient financial management and
capacitate their operations with individuals who have the relevant
skills and knowledge, to not only implement the various strategies, but also to
monitor and evaluate continuous progress.
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