On Tuesday 20 August 2013, the North West Provincial Legislature Standing Committee on Petitions met with petitioners of Dirang Lotlhe farming and projects Primary Co-operative over tractors and implements that the Department of Agriculture was suppose to buy for them but instead, they were told that they were redirected to other people in Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
The Committee recommended that all the department must locate the tractor and give a full report on the condition of its within 14 days. All commitments made by the department in respect of returning the tractor and implements must be in writing and they must also have time frames.
This came after Dirang Lotlhe Farming’s representative, Mr. Obakeng Lebitsa told the Committee that the Co-operative was founded by seven members who are from the community of Bakwena Ba Mogopa. He stated that the Department of Agriculture promised to assist the co-operative to buy a tractor and implements for farming in 2011. They signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Agriculture and the department committed R2 million for the tractor and implements.
“The Department of Agriculture bought the tractor and implements under Dirang Lotlhe farming and projects Primary Co-operative but we never received that tractor, instead we were told that it was redirected to other people in Ngaka Modiri Molema,” said Mr Lebitsa.
District Director for Agriculture, Mr. Ben Matiwane concurred with what the petitioner presented.
He said; “The department bought a tractor and implements for Dirang Lotlhe Farming and Projects Primary Co-operative as per order 13M136618P000000 dated July 2012, but the tractor and implements were delivered at Kgora Resource Centre at Ramatlabama on the 23 August 2013.
“A decision was taken by the suspended HOD Dr E.M. Mogajane to redirect all purchased tractors and implements identified and allocated for Dirang Lotlhe Farming Projects Primary Co-operative and many other projects to Grain –SA for grain production in Ngaka Modiri Molema. As such production inputs were not purchased for the project. The matter is under investigation,” said Mr Matiwane.
Mr Matiwane said all tractors and implements that were purchased for Dirang Lotlhe Farmig and Projects Primary Co-operative will be withdrawn from Ngaka Modiri Molema and be allocated to the right projects in line with their crop mechanisation policy.
The committee also resolved to invitee MEC for Agriculture, MEC Mohono and the Acting HOD Dr Mokaila to come up with a timeframe as to when the cooperative would get what rightfully belongs to it as well as clarifying the issues that were not responded to by the delegated officials from the department.
Members of the media are invited to attend the meeting and can contact:
Namhla Luhabe
Cell: 079 527 0628
