Agriculture, Conservation and Environment Khabisi Mosunkutu, Provincial
Legislature
12 June 2007
Honourable Speaker
Deputy Speaker
Premier Shilowa
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Friends and colleagues
Guests
Ladies and gentlemen
A. Introduction
I feel deeply honoured to have this opportunity to present to this House my
Department's service delivery plans for the 2007/08 financial year. Needless to
say delivery on these plans will further extend the tangible benefits that have
already accrued to our people as a consequence of our democratic dispensation.
Attainment of the goals outlined in the report should also contribute towards
consolidating our national sense of patriotism, a patriotism that builds a
truly united, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous nation.
This seat of our people's provincial government is tasked to mull over my
Department's programme of action at a time when, four days from today, we
formally shall be celebrating the youth of our country. This will provide us
with an opportunity to remind ourselves of the great heroism that went into
bringing us the freedom that we today enjoy and seek to enhance through our
works in government.
Masses of our people throughout the classes and strata that constitute our
society already are engaged in vigorous deliberations reviewing the path that
we have traversed and what else needs to be done to further entrench our
democratic dispensation. Of course this will inform the tactics and strategies
of our people's movement, tactics and strategies that will, necessarily so,
impact on the intensity of the plans that we today are discussing. These
discussions will culminate in policy resolutions at the forth-coming national
African National Congress (ANC) Policy Conference. We trust that debate around
the service delivery objectives set out in this document, whether held in the
Gauteng Legislature or on the streets of the province will genuinely contribute
towards the ultimate goal we have set for the Department enhancing the quality
of life of our people.
In presenting the service delivery commitments for the current financial
year, I am also conscious of the context within which we should intensify our
work. Addressing the nation during the State of the Nation address (SONA),
President Mbeki directed that we should implement 'the Communal Land Rights Act
in order to improve economic utilisation of communal land while at the same
time expanding assistance such as irrigation, seeds and implements to small and
co-operative farmers'.
Note has also been taken of the State of the Province address (SOPA)
delivered by Premier Mbhazima Shilowa. In it he directed that the Gauteng
Agricultural Development Strategy (GADS) should be, 'implemented to take
advantage of the sector's potential for economic empowerment and growth. This
aims to boost value-added production in the sector, including through promoting
bio-technology, agro-processing and high value and niche market crops.'
B. Past achievements
Discussing my Department's programme of action we perhaps also should
reflect on whether as part of a developmental State we have established 'clear,
measurable and time bound targets' that will ensure a 'sustainable economy
where all South Africans, present and future, realise their right to an
environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being. An economy in
which increasing social equality and economic growth form a virtuous cycle of
development which progressively improves the quality of life of all citizens,
rolls back the frontiers of poverty and frees the potential of each person'.
This is an extract from some of the ANC inspired discussion documents that
constitute background information for the policy debates that I earlier alluded
to.
Prior to presenting my Department's budget plans, I perhaps need to briefly
highlight some of our milestones of the outgoing financial year.
1. Our contribution to stimulating faster economic growth and to drastically
reduce unemployment
1.1 Utilising the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations and
processes, the Department approved more than 95 percent of all EIA
applications. 70 percent of these were finalised within the stipulated time
frames, allowing new developments to proceed especially in the industrial and
residential sectors.
1.2 Our Veterinary Services Unit continued to curb the transfer of pathogens
and to maintain the credibility of the country's veterinary certification
processes, thereby contributing to confidence in the province and facilitating
an increase in international trade. To this end 2 618 inspections were carried
out and 11 634 health certificates issued during the past financial year. In
pursuing the same objectives, 18 871 cattle and 105 samples of pigs were
tested.
1.3 Relying on labour intensive methods, R5,7 million was expended on
upgrading provincial nature reserves. Two hundred and fifty local residents
benefited from the short term jobs that were created and were thus able to put
food on the table. Also as a consequence of this upgrading, the number of
visitors to the reserves especially learners, increased by 20 percent over the
previous financial year. Opportunities were created for 2 782 pupils to attend
the conservation awareness programmes held regularly at the reserves.
An amount of R8,9 million has been budgeted for further upgrading of the
reserves. As part of this upgrading of the reserves, a tender was issued for a
service provider to manage the visitor services at the reserves. We anticipate
awarding the tender to a suitable bidder before the end of this financial year.
This process will contribute to the development of quality class holiday or
weekend destinations to which visitors can come to unwind and enjoy the nature
with which our province is so abundantly blessed.
1.4 Our Sustainable Resources Management Unit, responsible for much of our
involvement in the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) created 296 jobs
during the year under review which resulted in the burning of 181 kilometre of
firebreaks and the removal of 21 524 ha of invasive plants. This programme
continues with the Department creating additional jobs for the burning of
firebreaks and the removal of solid waste from the Klipspruit River and its
tributaries.
It is worth noting that a growing number of developers express their
appreciation on the quality of work and the attention given in the development
of EIA decisions.
2. What we did to contribute to fighting poverty and building secure and
sustainable communities
2.1 The Department's Integrated Household Food Security Programmes were very
effective in contributing to the reduction of poverty levels in the province.
Through these programmes, 117 projects reaching approximately 2 280
beneficiaries were implemented during the year. People who are mentally and
physically challenged were not left out as we extended services to facilities
catering for these communities in Lenasia, Laudium and Springs. These projects
entailed the distribution of starter packs to beneficiaries who were selected
with the help of local authorities.
I am pleased to report that the drafting and compilation of Department's
food security strategy is now complete and will be tabled before the Executive
Council soon.
2.2 We have frequently submitted that the Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) processes are developmental tools that encourage sustainability and the
security of our communities. This is borne out by, to cite but one example, a
development in Strubens Valley. Having been notified of the illegal deviation
and degradation of a river in Strubens Valley ext 7, our environmental
management inspectors, the famed 'Green Scorpions' initiated an investigation.
Satisfied that violations of environmental regulations and the National
Environmental Management Act (NEMA) had indeed taken place, we engaged the
developers not only for purposes of rehabilitation but also for further
development in the area. As a consequence, local developers agreed to work not
only on the rehabilitation of the river and a local wetland, but also to
construct houses in the area.
3. Building an effective and caring government
3.1 The MEC/MMC forum met twice in the year under review. As a consequence
of meetings such as these, we signed four Environmental Management Frameworks
(EMFs). As part of our outreach programme, 12 stakeholder meetings were held
with various communities of Gauteng. The Department remains committed to
increased and ongoing communication with all stakeholders in the province
through stakeholder meetings, capacity building programmes and imbizos to
maximise awareness of and involvement in the work carried out by our different
core business units.
Friends and colleagues, these milestones have been mentioned merely to set a
background for the programme of action of the financial year under discussion.
Naturally a full report on service delivery for the year 2006/07 will be
presented in the Department's Annual Report.
C. 2007/08 financial year
My Department has been allocated an amount of R294,648 million for the
2007/08 financial year, which is an increase of 21,1% on the previous budget.
This will be utilised as follows:
* Programme 1: Administration: R109,706 million
* Programme 2: Agriculture: R112,174 million
* Programme 3: Conservation: R40,034 million
* Programme 4: Environment: R32,734 million
I now will systematically present signposts for the incoming financial year.
I will present these markers within the following provincial strategic
objectives:
1. Stimulating faster economic growth and drastically reduce unemployment
1.1 Agriculture
It is perhaps apt to point out that because of the very important role that
urban agriculture plays in relation to our strategic objectives we have
increased the efficiency of implementation of our food insecurity alleviation
programmes. As a result, even though we have had to reduce our appropriation
for these programmes from R16,5 million in 2006/07 to R14,9 million in 2007/08,
we are reaching the same targets as before.
It is an accepted fact that infrastructure has an important and positive
role to play in economic development. It is with this understanding that in the
2007/08 financial year, we commit R19, 7m to assist 100 new farmers with
agriculture infrastructural development as part of our Farmer Support Programme
(FSP).
During his SOPA, Premier Shilowa stressed the need to rollout our planned
Agricultural Hubs Programme. We can report that we have already launched the
first such hub at which together with the Metsweding District Municipality and
the Nokeng and Kungwini local municipalities we signed a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) in terms of which the parties:
* pledged to co-operate in the planning of the agriculture hubs within the
boundaries of the municipality
* agreed on the provision of essential services such as water, electricity,
security, etc in the agriculture hubs
* agreed to co-operate in the development of infrastructure required in the
agriculture hubs
* agreed to contribute to the sound management of agriculture enterprises to be
established in the agriculture hubs.
We aim to ensure that projects established in the agriculture hubs
participate across the complete agricultural value chain. Therefore, we have
begun with the development of the Agriculture Plan (A-plan) which serves as the
business plan for the agriculture hubs. It will comprehensively define the
anchor projects within the agriculture hubs. The range of projects and
activities within the agriculture hubs includes amongst others training,
assistance with inputs, development of co-operatives and building of marketing
infrastructure such as pack houses. It is the intention of the Department to
ensure that the necessary infrastructure is established within the agriculture
hubs to ensure that a conducive environment for enhanced production is created.
Government farmer support programmes such as Micro Agricultural Financial
Scheme of South Africa (Mafisa), Comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme
(CASP), etc will be focused in the agriculture hubs.
Our basic approach to these nuclei of high quality agricultural activities
includes ensuring access to local and international markets for farmers. To
further contribute to the realisation of this objective, we will produce six
market reports and four market tendency reports during this financial year.
During the 2006/07 financial year, we completed the project of zonation of
moderate to high potential agriculture land. This project formed the basis for
improving the Gauteng Agriculture Potential Atlas (GAPA) which is one of the
decision support tools essential for prompt decision making with regard to the
EIAs. Furthermore, this zonation project was a precursor to the agriculture
hubs as a constituent element of the implementation of the Gauteng Agriculture
Development Strategy (GADS).
The outcome of the zonation process is expected to further help in enhancing
our comprehensive agricultural plan, a plan that is a constituent element of
the implementation of the Gauteng Agricultural Development Strategy (GADS).
Unfragmented areas of moderate to high potential agricultural land will be
utilised in accordance with the framework established for the Metsweding
Agricultural Hub, which is to develop the area into highly productive intensive
agricultural hubs or corridors of mixed farm sizes with an emphasis on
smallholder farming.
To further accelerate the alteration of the race and gender patterns of
ownership in the agricultural sector we plan to facilitate the development and
evaluation of 116 business plans of emerging farmers. To increase the
contribution of agriculture to the Provincial Gross Domestic Product (PGDP), we
have recently completed the first Biotechnology strategy. We aim to spend R16
million in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 financial years on the implementation of the
strategy. The strategy will address the following areas:
* developing resources for agriculture and environmental biotechnology
* increasing public awareness and understanding of agricultural and
environmental biotechnology
* expanding research and development
* ensuring effective regulations
* addressing commercialisation and industry requirements
* developing and maintaining networks.
Also in line with the aim of increasing agricultural productivity and its
contribution to the development of the provincial economy, we will during this
financial year produce 40 early warning weather reports. We will also provide 2
150 farmers with on site extension service and training at a cost of
R364,500.
Working in conjunction with the national Department of Agriculture, we will
further facilitate the quicker development of farmers to move them out of
'emerging farmer' status. Based on this co-operation we will also utilise the
Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) programme to benefit
150 farmers during this financial year. Another 100 farmers should also benefit
from the Department's Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP),
whilst 80 more farmers should benefit from the Gauteng Farmer Support Programme
during the same financial year. We will furthermore spend R10,5 million in the
Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to commission research aimed
specifically at addressing various productivity challenges faced by our
emerging farming sector.
However, while waiting for resettlement under the LRAD there are already
pamphlets doing the rounds about how, when and who the beneficiaries should
work with, contrary to the policies that have been designed. The pamphlets are
not signed by my Department nor by the Department of Public Transport, Roads
and Works. I wish to alert farmers to be vigilant and that those responsible
will be tracked down. I hereby wish to table a copy of the relevant
document.
1.2 Veterinary services
Our veterinary abattoir inspection unit is working towards acquiring the
coveted South African National Accreditation Service (SANAS) ISO 17020
accreditation. Thus far we have successfully passed the document review phase.
The inspection service offered by this unit of the Gauteng Provincial
Government will be recognised internationally as being of a credible and
reliable standard, comparable only with those who have also acquired the
accreditation. This ISO 17020 accreditation marks the first step to the full
implementation of a Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) management
system.
The unit will also embark on a campaign that will target 10 000 animals for
examination and treatment as part of animal disease prevention across the
province. The focus will be on rabies, brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis,
Newcastle disease and other controlled diseases. We will also engage with
hostel indunas to explore opportunities offered by the Meat Safety Act (Act No
40 of 2000) with respect to the current practice of illegal slaughter in
hostels. Successfully implemented, we should find some of these entrepreneurs
graduating and featuring in the formal wholesome meat trade.
The unit will provide twelve reports of certificates that were issued in the
course of the year in terms of the Veterinary Procedure Notice (VPN 17) as part
of their efforts to facilitate the export of meat products through their
certification, inspection, registration and testing programmes.
Additionally, 1 100 tests will be conducted across the province to help
ensure a continuous supply of wholesome and healthy food of animal origin.
The budgetary allocation for veterinary work has been increased by 53% from
R19 million during the past financial year to R30 million for the financial
year under discussion.
1.3 EIA processes
In line with a deeply held view within the Department that EIAs are tools
aimed at facilitating sustainable development, we plan to issue a minimum of
300 Records of Decision (ROD) that relate to industrial activities. These will
be processed in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act, as
amended and associated EIA regulations and procedures.
Friends and colleagues, you may have noticed when driving around the
province the rate of new construction that is taking place currently. What
usually escapes our minds is that the application of EIA tools has facilitated
these rapid developments, while ensuring that they take place in a sustainable
and responsible way.
2. Fighting poverty and building secure and sustainable communities
2.1 Food security
Our Comprehensive and Integrated Food Security Programme includes our
Homestead Food Garden and Community Food Garden projects. During this financial
year, at a cost of R14,9 million, we commit ourselves to the establishment of
32 Community Food Production Units benefiting 640 households and 9 300
household food projects (backyard gardens), exceeding our previous target of 9
000 by 300 gardens.
2.2 Sustainable use of the environment
Environmental issues have come to the fore of global debates. This in the
main is due to the increase in verifiable evidence cruelly brought to our
attention that mismanagement of the environment is deleterious both to life and
to infrastructure, to weather patterns, rainfall patterns and water
availability, amongst others.
Nationally we are taking this issue seriously. To contribute towards
negating the negative impacts of environmental mismanagement and as a way of
contributing to the provincial strategic objective of fighting poverty and to
build secure and sustainable communities, we plan to complete the development
of an Integrated Hazardous Waste Management Plan for Gauteng (GHWMP).
We also plan to complete 10 audits of hazardous waste landfill sites as well
as 15 audits of sewage treatment plants during this financial year.
With these activities we will be contributing towards protecting the
environment without compromising economic and social development.
2.3 Ethno-botany
Another activity that contributes to economic development and environmental
well-being is ethno-botany. Available information shows that well over 700 tons
of plant products are traded annually in Gauteng. Properly managed, the
ethno-botany sector can also contribute to economic development.
Scientists inform us that indigenous people around the world have
continuously sought knowledge of the physical reality that surrounds them. Vel
Suminguit, an anthropologist and ethno-botany scholar attached to the United
Nations (UN), made important observations in relation to such indigenous
knowledge systems. Giving background information to a report submitted to the
UN, Suminguit observed that 'a major component of this body of traditional
knowledge is about the interaction between human societies and the plant
kingdom and more specifically how indigenous peoples perceive, manage and
utilise the plants around them'.
Interacting with relevant stakeholders we therefore plan to further build on
the medicinal plant project which was launched on 20 April 2007 to inculcate
better husbandry of ethno-botany.
Utilising Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) methods we commit to the
creation of at least 380 jobs in the clearing of alien vegetation, building of
firebreaks and in other soil preservation measures.
The total budget allocated for all work related to sustainable use of the
environment is R72,768 million for this financial year.
3. Developing healthy, appropriately skilled and productive people
Being the economic hub of the country has, unnecessarily, meant that we also
produce a great number of by products that are harmful to our people's health.
Within Gauteng, we have hot spot areas that are notorious for generating
polluted air that negatively impacts on the health of our communities.
3.1 Air Quality Management
Whilst avoiding undermining the economic edge that the province enjoys, we
plan to issue 300 Records of Decisions (ROD) in compliance with air quality
standards and the management and control of pollution especially in relation to
industrial activities.
3.2 Hazardous Waste Management Plan and the National Waste Bill
We also intend to complete the development of the Integrated Hazardous Waste
Management Plan of Gauteng for purposes of protecting our people's health and
the environment without compromising the social and economic advantages enjoyed
by the province. The Waste Management Bill will soon become an Act. This will
enable the province to deal with the issue of waste management more
innovatively.
3.3 Litter-Free Gauteng Campaign and Bontle ke Botho
As part of the Department's initiative to manage the environment and to
contribute towards building healthy communities, we launched on 5 June 2007 the
Litter-free Gauteng Campaign. It is envisaged that the campaign will also
contribute to the creation of a cleaner, healthier and safer environment which
as a spin-off, will further attract economic investment and growth. This will
result in the creation of additional employment opportunities for residents of
the province.
This campaign complements the Bontle ke Botho (BkB) Clean and Green Campaign
which focuses on encouraging municipalities, wards and schools to contribute to
the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD). BkB has been running successfully since 2002 and awards
prizes in excess of R3 million per annum to schools, wards and municipalities
that have shown commitment, through their projects, to a clean and green
Gauteng.
3.4 Sewage Treatment Plants and Hazardous Waste Landfill Sites
As indicated above, the Department will complete fifteen audits of sewage
treatment plants during this financial year and 10 audits of hazardous waste
landfill sites. This will contribute to the entrenchment of the right of the
people of Gauteng to healthy and productive communities.
4. Building an effective and caring government
Interactive communication with our mandate givers, the electorate is
critical for a caring government such as ours. Indeed, the notion of democracy
implies the continuous and unremitting involvement of voters in the complex
process of governance and in the current South African context of
transformation.
4.1 Communications
To contribute to this objective we will expend over R12,2 million directly
communicating with the Department's stakeholders through izimbizo, stakeholder
meetings, capacity-building workshops and through print and broadcast media
partnerships.
4.2 Legal and Policy Research Services
Friends and colleagues, it is an undisputable fact that we are a stable
democracy and that dreams of upending this dispensation is but a delusion.
This, however, does not suggest the complete absence of possible anarchists. To
ensure continuity and to also continuously review and align policies to
strategic objectives, our legal and policy unit will during the current year
review all key departmental policies. In addition, the Department will ensure
that programmes are in place to inform stakeholders of such changes and thereby
empower them to continue to take advantage of the programmes and activities of
the Department.
4.3 Gender and skills enhancing activities
As part of further contributing to the attainment of gender equality and
skills development, we commit to 280 activities aimed at raising career
awareness and interest in the core business of the Department especially in the
areas of scarce skills. Particular attention will be paid to reaching women,
the youth and people with disabilities.
4.4 MEC/MMC meetings
The programme of bi-annual meetings between the MEC and MMCs of the various
local municipalities will continue, as will other formal informal contact with
officials of those municipalities. The main aim of these meetings is to
strategise and harmonise around critical issues in the interests of
co-operative governance and effective and efficient service delivery.
5. Deepening democracy and nation building and realising the constitutional
rights of all people
Compliance and enforcement
The work of our compliance and enforcement branch derives, on the main,
directly from clause 24 of our Constitution. This clause gives all our
communities a right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and
wellbeing. The clause also enjoins us to protect the environment for the
generation yet to be born.
Towards this objective this branch will dedicate time and space during this
financial year to further improving its intelligence gathering capacity. The
branch will also work towards capacitating local municipalities to hone their
ability to protect communities against environmental swindlers, with particular
focus being on the big sharks.
D. Conclusion
Honourable members of the House, in Sepedi we assert that kgomo kgomo ga
enye boloko ka moka bloke. In the interest of time, I shall not deviate from
this wisdom. Of course, a detailed report is available in the Budget Vote
document which should be available to members of the House and the public.
In conclusion, I wish to commend the collective leadership availed by the
Executive Council, the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and
Environment and the Premier.
I also wish to commend the Head of Department: Dr Steven Cornelius for his
sterling leadership of the Department. I cannot fail to also commend all
dedicated senior managers and staff in my Department.
Allow me to leave you with the brilliant words of Inkosi Albert Luthuli.
Addressing a public meeting, organised by the ANC in Soweto in 1958, this Nobel
Laureate asked a question and provided an eloquent response to it. I quote
Chief Albert Luthuli, 'Is this vision of a democratic society in South Africa a
realisable vision? Or is it merely a mirage? I say it is a realisable vision.
For it is in the nature of man to yearn and struggle for freedom. The germ of
freedom is in every individual, in anyone who is a human being. In fact the
history of mankind is the history of man struggling and striving for freedom.
Indeed, the very apex of human achievement is freedom and not slavery. Every
human being struggles to reach that apex.' This apex if I may add constitutes
politically, social and economic freedom.
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng
Provincial Government
12 June 2007
