Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Honourable premier
Members of the Executive Council (MECs)
Leaders of political parties
Honourable members
Executive mayors and members of the mayoral committees
Other leaders of local government
Heads of departments
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Stakeholders and partners
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Comrades and friends
Citizens of Gauteng
Ladies and gentlemen
Introduction
Good morning, gooie möre, sanibonani, dumelang, ndi-matsheloni, avuxeni.
It's a great pleasure for me to present the budget vote speech during this historic year, 2010, on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, including Environment.
Madam speaker, 2010 is historic because, we continue to celebrate the 20th year since the release of our national and international icon, Utata Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela. It is through his commitment, contribution and dedication as part of the leadership collective that today we are celebrating the hosting of the first and best ever 2010 FIFA World Cup in the African continent.
We are excited that the whole world is looking forward to enjoy the sunny South Africa and its warm, friendly people, whilst enjoying the beautiful game. The 2010 FIFA World Cup in Mandela time can only bring us closer as a nation, and African Continent.
Honourable Speaker, it is only 23 days before the kick off of 2010 FIFA World Cup and we hope that we all have tickets or we'll be at the fan parks to witness our national team, Bafana-Bafana, conquering the world. Viva Bafana-Bafana viva!
Let me however hasten to say that our environmental management inspectors known as Green Scorpions will be out in full force during the world cup. We have a full understanding that some people will take advantage of the event and practice illegal activities. Green scorpions will be deployed at all entry points of the province to deal with these illegal practices.
As we celebrate, honourable members, we must also remember and salute our heroes and heroines of our struggle for freedom and better life for all including Dr Manto Tshabalala Msimang, Dr Molefi Sefularo, Advocate Fatima Meer, Ms Sheila Duncan and many others who dedicated their lives in the fight for a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa.
Madam Speaker let me remind the house that we are also celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Freedom Charter. This document remains the most important guiding document of the movement and the budget vote presented to this house today.
The Freedom Charter states that: "the land shall be shared among those who work it to banish famine and hunger". These remain the foundation for our freedom and guiding document. It continues by stating that "the state shall help the peasants with, seeds, tractors and dams to save the soil and assist the tillers".
It is this documents that guided us. The ANC as the ruling party identified rural development, food security and land reform as one of government's priorities for the next five years. We are committed to the spirit of Freedom Charter and we will work towards the achievement of its vision.
This document is so important not only to the people of South Africa, but also to our international friends who went all out to buy it through an auction. We are grateful to our compatriots who realised the importance of protecting this freedom guiding document and brought it back to the country.
We agreed with iNkosi Baba Albert Luthuli in 1953 when he said "the masses of the African people live in abject poverty in both rural and urban areas and so many Africans find themselves landless and homeless. They find themselves suffering from hunger, malnutrition and diseases". We believe that the budget presented today will continue to address the issues raised by our leader in 1953.
Honourable Speaker, this budget speech we present today will, therefore, highlight some of the achievements measured against our 2009/10 commitments in line with our five year strategic priorities, challenges lying ahead and how the department will spend the 2010/11 budget in line with the national outcomes to practically respond to the needs of our people in line with our electoral manifesto commitments.
Synopsis of 2009/10 achievements
Honourable Speaker and members, as our Honourable premier indicated in her State of the Province Address, we have indeed honoured most of our commitments with strong partnerships with our stakeholders and unequivocal support of masses of our people towards achieving the following five year priorities:
- Creating decent work and building and growing inclusive economy
- Promoting quality education and skills development
- Better healthcare for all
- Stimulating rural development and food security
- Intensify the fight against crime and corruption
- Building cohesive and sustainable communities, and
- Strengthening the development state and good governance
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has developed and or revised the following strategies aimed at stimulating rural development, food security and at protecting and sustaining our environment and natural resources:
1. The revised Gauteng integrated food security strategy aimed at ensuring that no child goes to bed on an empty stomach and to improve levels of food security.
2. The revised Gauteng agricultural development strategy to maximise the agricultural economic sector growth and job creation which incorporates:
- Agro-processing plan
- Agricultural mechanisation plan
- Agricultural disaster management plan
- Revival of agricultural expositions to promote exposure to agricultural inputs and products
- A plan to develop agricultural hubs to maximise benefits of emerging farmers
- A plan to revive of the maize triangle
- The West Rand agricultural training plan
- A plan to establish a Bio-Science park
- A roll out plan and targets on homestead and community food gardens
- An extension and advisory services plan to ensure quality extension services to improve farmer productivity.
3. Air quality management plan aimed at protecting our natural resource i.e. air, from pollution.
4. Waste minimisation plan including efficient collection, recycling, re-use, etc. to ensure a clean environment.
5. Hazardous waste management plan to protect humans and the environment.
6. The Clean/Anti-litter and Green Campaign.
7. The rural development strategy aimed at addressing the need for better social and economic infrastructure, promote more cooperatives, small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) and support job creation linked to skills training.
In implementing these strategies and plans, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development branches working together with communities on the ground have delivered the following services amongst many things done:
Agriculture or food security
- Agro-processing and agri-businesses: 1 884 agri-businesses received lug boxes to use for harvesting vegetables, for weighing and storing vegetables before selling.
The department has also distributed packaging materials and wrapping machines to small scale agro-processing projects. Eight pack houses with cooling facilities have been erected on farms in the province. About 40 agri-businesses were supported to access markets and 13 for Mafisa soft loans.
- Cooperatives: Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development facilitated the registration of 200 cooperatives with over 133 of these been trained in compliance with the Cooperatives Act. Already 18 cooperatives have a three year contract worth R5 million with the Gauteng provincial government to supply food to health and social development institutions.
The department is finalising another contract worth R10 million to benefit another 20 cooperatives in line with our strategy of helping the cooperatives to access the markets.
- Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP): 112 farmers benefited from CASP through provision of piggery structures with a carrying capacity of 12 sow units, poultry structures with carrying capacity of between 1 000 and 10 000 birds, irrigation systems, drilling of water boreholes, hydroponic structures and fencing of farms.
- Community, homestead and school food gardens: the department has established over 9 232 food gardens across the province as part of the Letsema/Ilima access to food production scheme.
- The plight of farm workers and dwellers: Madam Speaker, the department together with the premier, through the initiatives of national Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries MINMEC, had a successful Farm Workers and Dwellers Summit with the aim of forging partnerships, creating a conducive environment within the sector between the farmers and the farm workers and dwellers, most importantly create harmonious relations between the farmers and farm workers and dwellers to bridge the racial tension and divide within the sector.
Our objective of bringing stability in the sector is a journey that cannot be completed within two days because it involves mindset and attitude changes amongst role players. We are however committed to walk the journey that will obtain peace and stability in the sector resulting in achieving food security for all.
The most touching issue raised by farm workers and dwellers is the fact that after 16 years of democracy, they feel totally excluded. We will work with all role players to make sure that those workers feel part of this democratic country and enjoy the fruits of our liberation.
Sustainable resource management
- Contributed to the rural development through creation of 325 jobs through Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) that includes firebreaks burn and the implementation of conservation works.
- Removal of 23 000 hectors of alien invasive plants and the cleaning of rivers including Jukskei in Alexandra township.
- Land care: distribution of over 3 000 trees, introduction of land care youth camps, introduction of school land care projects and establishment of community base natural resource management (CBNRM).
- Wetlands rehabilitation: The department has identified wetlands in the prioritised townships that are being rehabilitated and are linked to the gardening project and ecological system.
- Clean and Green campaign: Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development together with the premier launched the Clean and Green campaign in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni during the last financial year.
Since the launch, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development together with the Ekurhuleni Metro, have intensified cleaning and greening in Tembisa, with the aim of also intensifying public education and creating awareness to our community about the challenges brought by littering.
- Bontle ke Botho. Since the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) which was held in this province in 2002, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has contributed tremendously to the environmental education and management through the Bontle ke Botho Clean and Green campaign.
The campaign has contributed towards sustainable job creation mostly around the waste management and recycling initiatives. A practical example of such sustainable project is in Emfuleni municipality which started with just few workers and today has created over 200 sustainable jobs.
- Air quality management. The plan contains intervention strategies on the improvement of air quality management. Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is working together with environmental organisations to enforce the plan for industries and communities to comply with the plan.
Veterinary service
- Diseases: no major diseases were diagnosed during this financial year and no risk of disease transferred from animals to consumers in the province.
The department continues to provide primary animal health intervention that includes vaccination for common diseases and treatment for both internal and external parasites for Gauteng farmers.
The department is also continuing with vaccination of pets through the PetCare campaign that includes sterilisation of pets across the province. We have intensified Rabies Vaccination campaign in Linden, Johannesburg area after a tip off by community members on suspicious affected pet.
During the campaign, over 8 000 pets were vaccinated within just one week.
- The veterinary service continues to be accredited with international recognition. During this financial year, International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 17020 accreditation of abattoir inspection services has been accorded to Germiston and Tshwane service centres.
This simply means that consumers are assured of the quality of meat coming from those centres as stipulated by international standards and we can export the meat from those centres to the international community without any fear.
We pride ourselves for being the first and only ones to be awarded this accreditation in Africa, with the first one awarded in 2008.
- To prove our stakeholder satisfaction regarding the work of the department, Veterinary Service was awarded "Best Quality Services Award" over top private sector companies. Madam Speaker, our veterinary service will be representing South Africa in similar competition with Southern African Development Countries (SADC) later during the year.
Nature conservation
This continues to provide support on the implementation of environmental impact assessment (EIA) regulations and biodiversity permits. The department's environmental management inspectorate (EMIs) known as the Green Scorpions has been enforcing and protecting our environment, bio-diversity and natural resources.
Furthermore, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued about 500 environmental authorisations (positive and negative) to promote sustainable development in the province. The MEC has dealt with and responded to about 67 appeals against the department's records of decision, to promote sustainable development in the province.
Transformation
The department has remained committed in action with gender mainstreaming and socio-economic empowerment of women through Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD), Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (YARD) and people with disabilities.
As such, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development seem to be the only department that has exceeded the disability equity target of two percent. Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development achieved a representation of 2.2 percent by March 2010. 39 percent of youth entrepreneurs, 61 percent women entrepreneurs (cooperatives) and 0.05 percent people with disabilities entrepreneurs have benefited from our preferential procurement system.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development plans to increase beneficiation to ensure economic empowerment of these designated groups of our society
Challenges
Honourable Speaker, in spite of these and many other achievements, our people have continued to raise many challenges to be addressed including: unemployment, sharp rise in food prices, the price fixing of basic food by our private sector companies, poor working conditions of farm workers and dwellers, continued brutal assault of farm workers and farm dwellers, killing of farmers, a need for skills training on technical aspects of farming, farm management with special reference to financial management, conservation farming and community projects management, access to land, finance, markets and basic infrastructure in peri-urban areas of the province.
Overview of budgetary allocations
Madam Speaker, allow me to present to the house and the people of Gauteng, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's 2010/11 budget and the programme of action in pursuit of our priorities.
In line with the national approach, the emphasis and focus of our work will be on outcomes, and all our energies will be channelled towards what our people need as opposed to what the department wants to do.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is tasked with the responsibility to champion the following two outcomes on behalf of the Gauteng government:
- Outcome seven: vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities and food security for all.
- Outcome 10: protecting and enhancing environmental assets and natural resources.
The department's budgetary allocation has increased during the 2008/09 financial year from R374.903 million to R436.843 million in 2009/10 to R444.373 million for the 2010/11 financial year.
During the 2009/10, department budget was adjusted downwards to R410.5 million due to the use of the R30 million for the Albertina Sisulu Corridor development. The department has further transferred R1.4 million to the Department of Education for the Bontle ke Botho campaign.
Madam Speaker, the funding through the conditional grant has been revised upwards from R49.943 million to R56.002 million during 2010/11 financial year. The R10 million allocated for disaster management is however discontinued for the 2010/11 financial year.
The fact that Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to receive 0.7 percent of the total Gauteng budget remains the biggest challenge in spite of additional new priorities.
This 2010/11 budget of R444.373 million Madam Speaker will be divided into the various service delivery programmes of the department in a manner that seeks to further advance the national and provincial government's seven strategic priorities and outcomes seven and 10 led by Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with this in mind:
Programme one: Administration has been allocated R135.254 million
Programme two: Agriculture, including veterinary services and sustainable resource management has been allocated R173.092 million
Programme three: Conservation is earmarked to receive R50.986 million
Programme four: Environment is budgeted to receive R85.061 million
Honourable Speaker, because rural development remains un-budgeted for, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s re-prioritisation has resulted in allocating R60.450 million from various branches for rural development.
Programs and projects for 2010/11
Outcome seven, first output: sustainable land reform.
- Facilitate post settlement support of 20 farms to be viable through CASP, proactive land acquisition strategy (PLAS), and ELRAD with infrastructure and mechanisation.
- Refer 20 farmers that require financial assistance to institutions such as Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP), Micro Agricultural Finance Initiative of South Africa (MAFISA), Land Bank and commercial finance institutions.
- Influence national government to purchase 12 farms within the agricultural hubs to accelerate land reform.
- Provide Gauteng's perspective on all land reform policy and bills developed during this financial year.
- Convene annual summits with farm workers and dwellers to engage on improvement of their working conditions.
Output two: rural development and sustainable livelihoods
- Deliver agro-processing infrastructure to 10 more cooperatives to promote rural socio-economic opportunities.
- Develop plans for Devon (Lesedi), Hekpoort (West-Rand and Sikhulumi (Metsweding/Nokeng) rural areas in consultation with related municipalities and communities.
- Launch the Rural Development program including poultry and piggery farming or agro-business in Devon, in partnership with Lesedi municipality.
- Roll out the Rural Development program to Hekpoort in the West Rand with poultry farming and agro-processing, and to Sikhulumi in Nokeng with in-land fishing farming or agro-business
Output three: food security for all
- Support the creation of 1 000 more household food gardens, eight more communal and 50 more school gardens in the prioritised 50 wards to reduce poverty.
- Inspect 200, vaccinate 5 000, and diagnose 10 000 more animals to control and prevent animal diseases such as rabies outbreaks.
- Expand agri-cooperatives in the 50 prioritised wards to reduce poverty and provide access to skills and financial support.
- Link 20 of these cooperatives with the supply chain contracts to promote access to markets and to ensure economic viability.
- Support 30 existing commercial or SMME farmers with technology e.g. hydroponics and mechanisation such as irrigation.
- Facilitate establishment of 10 new agri-businesses in the agri-hubs for food production and decent work creation.
- Revive the maize triangle in partnership with commercial farmers, transport department, Transnet and municipalities.
- Loan the 12 newly bought tractors to farmers in the hubs in partnership with municipalities and agricultural sector.
- Facilitate establishment of the bio-Science park in partnership with the private sector and the innovation hub role players.
Output four: job creation linked to skills training and capacity building
- Facilitate creation of more decent jobs through agriculture and rural development. Our target for 2010/11 is over 5 000 jobs in the sector.
- Facilitate creation of 200 more decent jobs through conservation, sustainable resource management and environment programmes.
- Launch the West Rand Agricultural Training programme and ensure quality and accredited training of farmers.
- Facilitate skills training of 2 000 farmers, targeting young farmers as part of a long-term investment in human resources in the sector.
Outcome 10, first output: reduced climate change and improved air quality
- Develop and implement a strategy to respond to climate change.
- Implement the air quality plan in partnership with environment organisations.
- Rehabilitate air quality stations placed within five municipalities.
- Undertake or develop a report on and monitor the state of environment to contribute to its improvement.
- Gazette and use the environment impact plan as a guiding principle to prevent pollution.
- Rollout the Basa Njengo Magogo programme in Daveyton and Khutsong as part of the interventions in the 20 plus six prioritised Townships.
Output two: sustainable use of natural resources and environment
- Facilitate development or review of environmental management frameworks at least three municipalities to ensure integration of environment into land use management.
- Green scorpions/EMI's to undertake ongoing inspection on compliance and enforce environmental laws.
- Provide disaster relief support to 10 percent more farmers affected.
- Facilitate development or review and implementation of three more municipal waste management plans.
- Facilitate development and implementation of all municipal clean and green plans.
- Expand participation of wards, schools and municipalities in the Bontle ke Botho campaign.
Output three: protected bio-diversity
- Develop and implement a policy to protect agricultural land or hubs, and against soil degradation.
- Register and rehabilitate four wetlands through EPWP and Land care programs
- Protect and conserve all the six Gauteng provincial government owned nature reserves and market them to attract more visitors to generate more revenue.
- Protect and conserve ecosystems in line with protected areas act.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Madam Speaker, we remain committed to work together with all our stakeholders to deliver more effective services to our people.
We have as a department also noted and will respond to all questions raised by the relevant portfolio and standing committees. We commit to follow up on all the issues raised by the committees and report on a regular basis.
I would, therefore, like to thank the Portfolio Committee of Agriculture and Rural Development under the leadership of Honourable member, Nokuthula Sikakane for the support and input that I have been afforded during the beginning of this budget process, as well as the Gender, Youth and Disability (GEYODI) Standing Committee for their continued guidance and support.
Madam Speaker, please allow me to pay tribute to our Head of Department Dr Steven Cornelius who is leaving the department when his contract expires in July 2010. Dr Cornelius contribution to the smooth running and management of the department will indeed not pass unnoticed.
Dr Cornelius is leaving the department after six dedicated years to Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. During his leadership, Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development collected many awards in recognition of the excellent services the department has delivered to the people of Gauteng.
The department has also on four conservative years obtained unqualified financial reports from the Treasury and Auditor-General. We wish him well in his future endeavours.
Let me also thanks the acting Head of Department, Advocate John Nesidoni, senior management and the staff of the department, including staff in my private office, for their hard/smart work and wonderful support. Thank you to my partners in all spheres of government departments, all role players, stakeholders in this field and the communities we serve for your support and guidance.
May I also thank the Honourable Speaker, Deputy Speaker, chief whip, members of this legislature for your support and assistance. I would also like to commend and thank Premier Nomvula Mokonyane for the courageous leadership she is providing to this province and departments.
The State President, Honourable Jacob Zuma in his state of the nation address and our honourable premier have both called on all of us to rise up and meet the challenges faced by citizens of this country and Gauteng to be specific by working faster, harder and smarter. Let's all accept the challenges and commit ourselves to work towards the betterment of the lives of our people. To my family, comrades and friends, I say thank you for your unconditional love and support.
2010 is a year of action; we must indeed work faster, harder and smarter in delivering the services to our people.
Working together we can do more!
Ngempela Kuyasheshwa eGauteng!
I thank you.
Source: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gdard.gpg.gov.za/)
