The Agricultural sector is set to undergo a radical transformation process following the gazetting of the Draft AgriBEE Sector Code by the Department of Trade and Industry today.
The AgriBEE Charter Council, which is overseeing the transformation agenda of the agricultural sector, is inviting interested parties and persons to comment on the Draft AgriBEE Sector Code within 60 days.
The Council is anticipating that after the submission of the public comments within the stipulated period of 60 days, the final AgriBEE Transformation Framework will lead to increased participation by black people in ownership; management; control of agricultural enterprises; agricultural value chain and the enhancement of skills development of the workers in the sector.
The AgriBEE Charter Council, which is made of up of representatives from government, industry, as well as labour, was appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, for the purposes of developing and gazetting the AgriBEE Sector Code.
The Charter Council is the main driver of the development of the sector code and has been charged with ensuring broader public participation in this 60-day period.
“The Charter Council will organise consultation platforms for ordinary South Africans across the country to voice their inputs on the draft sector code, starting from the date of the publication of the gazette- which is today - Monday 26 March, said the Chairperson of the Charter Council and also the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Langa Zita.
The gazette of the AgriBEE Sector Code was necessitated by the sector “specifics” that distinguished the agricultural sector from all the other sectors of the economy. For this purpose, specific weightings and targets have been determined by the sector, aimed at enhancing the efforts by the stakeholders towards full transformation of the agricultural sector.
The sector “specific” factors include, but not limited to, land ownership; high level of illiteracy; the agrarian nature of the agricultural sector and the role it can play in rural development programmes.
“The date of March 26 marked the moment for total transformation in the agricultural sector in South Africa. I am happy with the conclusion of this arduous process as it gives a clear path on how transformation should unfold in the agricultural sector”, Zita said.
For more information contact:
Mr Madime Mokoena
Tel: 012 319 8459
E-mail: MadimeM@daff.gov.za
Media statement from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on the publication of the draft AgriBEE Sector Code
