The MEC for the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Boitumelo Tshwene has during his budget vote speech delivered at the North West Provincial Legislature, responded promptly to the call to put job creation on top of the department’s agenda.
The call made by the State President, Mr Jacob Zuma to ensure that 2011 is the year of job creation will see 12 000 jobs created through the department’s flagship programmes as well as the Comprehensive Rural Development programme.
As part of the department’s commitment to job creation, the MEC also gave the house a detailed account on the successful collaboration with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the North West University on the re-introduction and distribution of Nguni Cattle to subsistence farmers, as one of the prime job creators since the inception of this project in 2006.
"We have a total number of eight-hundred and fifty-one Nguni cattle distributed to thirty-seven sites where the distribution per district was as follows: Ngaka Modiri Molema (nine), Dr Kenneth Kaunda (nine), Bojanala Platinum (nine) and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (10)", confirmed MEC Tshwene.
Among the one-hundred and twenty-one legitimate beneficiaries, 52 are women, 15 are youths, and 44 men. Of these 37 sites, 14 are in groups or cooperatives and 23 are individuals.
MEC Tshwene added that he has also taken very seriously, directives from the Premier Me Thandi Modise to establish a vegetable garden which will be of beneficial to people living with HIV and AIDS. Tshwene informed the legislature that the department has already identified a site for Ngaka Modiri Molema district, and the initial planning of this project will be rolled out in this financial year.
"We have set aside five hundred thousand rand for this project and we are considering expanding this initiative to other three districts in the ensuing years”, MEC Tshwene pronounced.
He added that the department will in partnership with the Departments of Health and Social Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilities as well as municipalities, work together to ensure that the objective of this initiative comes to fruition.
Enquiries:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Tel: 018 389 5719
Cell: 082 901 2435
E-mail: bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
Source: North West Agriculture and Rural Development
