Madam Speaker
Honourable Premier and Colleagues in the Executive
Honourable members of the House
Ladies and gentlemen
1. Introduction
Madam Speaker, it is both humbling and invigorating to be called upon once more to serve our people. The African National Congress (ANC) has a long and illustrious history of ensuring that leadership is drawn from the totality of our diversity. As I present this budget policy speech I draw strength from my organisation and I am appreciative of the foundations laid by women including stalwarts, such as Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Ida Mtwana, Charlotte Magxeke, who formed the Women's League of the African National Congress (ANC) and many others who ascended to powerful leadership positions.
I am also indebted to the national and provincial leadership not only for the confidence shown in me but for the clarity on the programme of action. I also humbly wish to thank my predecessor, the Honourable Mr Mtholephi Mthimkhulu for the foundation laid in ensuring that the department delivers on its mandate. I commit to continue where he has left off in the spirit of the closing affirmation by the multitudes who adopted the Freedom Charter in Kliptown on 26 June 1955 declared that "these freedoms we will fight for, side by side, throughout our lives, until we have won our liberty."
Madam Speaker this budget policy takes into account the macro and micro economic imperatives as enunciated by the Premier, the Honourable Dr Z L Mkhize in the State of the Province Address. I therefore stand here mindful of increased expectations for the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development to mitigate and ameliorate the devastating blow from the increased food insecurity as well as poverty. The status quo on poverty and deprivation and the accompanying effect on children are both daunting and challenging.
We are unable to reconcile the fact that we have access to plentiful arable land with the reality that 48% of children in the province experience hunger.
We need to work hard to eliminate these and other distortions to ensure that our programmes are able to transform the resources at our disposal for the optimal improvement of people's lives. We are also wide awake to the reality that as a department, the environment in which we find ourselves, calls upon us to rediscover ourselves and become the change that we wish to see and in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "the best way to find ourselves is to lose ourselves in the service of our people."
Madam Speaker, we serve at a time when there is clarity on national and provincial priorities and also at a time in which both the national and provincial leadership has provided clear indications on the requirement for programme integration between and within departments. This budget speech has been accordingly arranged to deal with Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development in a manner that indicates alignment with priority areas which themselves are the articulation of the electoral mandate. The department has ensured that all programmes address the key areas of rural development linked to; land and agrarian reform"
- the development of social and economic infrastructure
- the creation and promotion of cohesive sustainable communities
- human resource development
- sustainable resource management.
These priority areas have since been further refined to address provincial peculiarities and backlogs.
The provincial refinement process cascading from the work of the KwaZulu-Natal Cabinet Lekgotla has led to the sharpening of focus on food security as one of the critical measures and outcomes of rural development and agrarian reform. It is our commitment to respond to the call of the electorate and rise to the occasion and tackle poverty and related ramifications head-on. In addition, the budget will provide a clear expression of our intention to create ladders from subsistence food security activities to emerging and commercial farmer development.
The Executive Council has led from the front and the department now has to align its service delivery calendar and performance targets with key provincial activities such as the "One Home One Garden Campaign" that was launched on Mandela Day on 18 July 2009. I wish to express my gratitude to members of the Executive Council, members of the Royal Family, Amakhosi, the Mayor, Councillors and others who graced the launch and made it a success.
This budget is a clarion call to small scale, emerging and commercial farmers that when we say "together we can do more" we mean that partnership will facilitate the ease of entrance and sustainability for emerging farmers whilst accelerating the widening of market access nationally and internationally to the benefit of all. As I call upon all our stakeholders to join hands and to work together in partnership, I am reminded of the words of former President Nelson Mandela in his 1994 Inaugural speech when he said "today we are entering a new era for our country and its people. Today we celebrate not the victory of a party but a victory for all the people of South Africa."
Madam Speaker, I present this budget at a time when the specific mandate dealing with rural development is being refined. As a department, we are in constant liaison with our national colleagues. We are following closely the Giyani case study and pilot initiative which will be used to clarify the rural development mandate, areas of focus, performance measures, indicators and programmes. Currently the national department is visiting provinces to further clarify the model for comprehensive and integrated rural development.
2. Summary review of the 2008/09 financial year
Madam Speaker, I want to highlight some of the achievements of 2008/09. I wish to start with institutional and related achievements and then proceed to deal with achievements in Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development. I am fully aware that rural development is a new mandate but nonetheless, I also wish to mention a few achievements.
2.1 Progress with the turn-around strategy
One of these achievements was the commencement of a turn-around strategy which focused amongst others, on the identification of organisational and management and leadership challenges. This process is continuing and it has now reached a stage where causal factors have largely been identified.
The process has since intensified its focus on the achievement of management and administrative efficiencies and compliance with the PFMA. The department is emerging from a long turbulent period. Adverse opinions from the Auditor-General in the form of disclaimers were received in the 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2006/07 financial years. However, the Department showed some improvement in the 2007/08 financial year and it received a qualified audit report. This trend has received impetus and has benefited from the turn-around strategy.
The department is looking forward to receiving an unqualified audit report. This will be a significant milestone for the department as it has not achieved a clean report for the last four years. These internal achievements are the results of hard work by my staff.
2.2 Agriculture
Madam Speaker, I shall deal with agriculture under five components, namely food security, cooperatives development, women and youth, crops, livestock and land reform.
2.2.1 Food security
The key deliverables within this priority area include capacity for food security, income generation and export possibilities. The Honourable Premier in his State of the Province Address indicated that 3,5 million people are food insecure. I am happy to report that:
* more than 330 000 households benefited from our food security intervention
* under crop massification we managed to effectively put into production 3 539 hectares of land which would otherwise lie fallow
* 2 100 farmers benefited from our programmes
* 5 254 families benefited (quality food) from our crop massification programme which is basically dry beans and maize
* under the sugarcane fertilisation scheme, 13 015 small scale farmers received assistance
* 349 kilometres fencing was provided
* 850 dip-tanks have been rehabilitated to date by the livestock owners themselves
* 90 600 animals benefited from the rehabilitation of dip-tanks.
2.2.2 Cooperatives development
This is a critical vehicle for optimum delivery in rural development. The following are some of the achievements:
a. 100 Agricultural cooperatives were established
b. 300 cooperatives were added to the department’s official register
c. The transformation programme for the upgrading of SMME’s into cooperatives was started.
2.2.3 Land reform
In terms of land reform,
a. The Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) was able to provide support to land reform with infrastructure, inputs, training, mentorship and research. A total of 112 farms were assisted.
3. Outlook for 2009/10
3.1 Agriculture
Agriculture has been recognised as pivotal in addressing poverty and rural under development. This is confirmed in the State of the Province Address where the Honourable Premier stated as follows "we have resolved to focus on agriculture as a platform from which we will launch our campaign to fight poverty and build our economy." Agricultural development should be a focal point for rural development in areas where the resource base favours agricultural activities, and where large numbers of people depend on farming activities for household income and food.
3.1.1 Food security
In KwaZulu-Natal the estimated number of people that are food insecure is 3,5 million which equals to 580 000 households in the province. All the wards throughout the Province have been ranked, using the Provincial Index of Multiple Deprivation (PIMD) which is based on 2001 census information. These ranked indices have been developed by the Social Cluster and are based on the following indicators:
* income and material deprivation
* employment deprivation
* health deprivation
* education deprivation
* living environment
A total 57 of the most deprived wards have been identified as the Social and Economic Cluster focus areas. A minimum of 36 000 households in these 57 wards are food insecure. The department has set aside R45 million for this programme. We shall supply household starter packs which will enable them to produce more than sufficient vegetables for one year. To cater for the remainder of families throughout the province, a food safety net has been provided for. Seeds will be made available in the form of a seed scoop facility at strategic points (e.g. at municipalities, traditional administration centres, constituency offices as well as our offices) for all people in all the wards. This is now fully integrated and aligned with the One Home One Garden Campaign. We acknowledge the government of Flanders for their contribution in the food security programme.
3.1.2 Crop massification programme
This programme is aimed at supporting small scale farmers who are farming collectively and have at least 150 hectares or more of under utilised land and who wish, to farm on a commercial scale. To assist these farmers we will be providing a total package which includes:
* 68 kilowatts tractor and associated planting and harvesting implements
* once-off provision of seed and fertiliser
* ongoing comprehensive technical training and a mentor.
The Department of Economic Development and Tourism will be assisting us in the establishment of cooperatives and agro processing pack houses. We will take the lead in implementing the "one village one commodity" concept approach aims to initiate focused and sufficient production of various agricultural commodities that can be sold locally to government departments (for example hospitals), nationally to fresh produce markets, and internationally via the Dube Trade Port. The implementation of one village one commodity concept is also directly linked to the cooperative development programme. The crop massification programme will assist 3 900 new entrant farmers and has a budget of R52,7 million.
3.1.3 Cooperatives development
Cooperatives have been identified as one of the important tools to take the farmers, presently in the second economy, into the first economy. Primary Agricultural Cooperatives will continue to be established where the need still exists. More emphasis will, however now be placed on Secondary Agricultural Cooperatives which will include mechanization services and which will furthermore promote their effective participation in the entire value chain.
The department will facilitate access to financial and non-financial support, partnerships with other support institutions, markets, as well as training and mentorship.
3.1.4 Women and youth development
The important role of women in agriculture is well known. Most of our farmers are in fact women and have therefore been identified as a group that requires special focus. The same goes for the youth, as our future farmers. For this reason, this component has been elevated to become a special project which will fall directly under the Ministry. This will not allow for more focused attention, but will also ensure effective monitoring and reporting.
This programme is aimed at unlocking the commercial value of the communal livestock herd. The livestock development programme takes farmers on an incremental development process that includes:
* the rehabilitation of their own dip-tanks on EPWP principles
* the establishment of local, district and provincial livestock associations
* the fencing of cattle grazing camps and construction of cattle drinking troughs
* the training of livestock associations in primary animal healthcare.
We are working closely with the Department of Community Safety and Liaison to curb the scourge of stock theft. The department is supplying livestock associations with branding kits and training. The total budget for all livestock projects is R54,4 million.
3.3 Land and agrarian reform
This programme supports new commercial farmers who have access to commercial farms but who are not yet experienced farmers. Madam Speaker, this is an area full of challenges. It is common to find beneficiaries receiving farms in a dilapidated state, without equipment and infrastructure and yet these beneficiaries must continue to produce for established markets and at a high level of quality and quantity. The challenge is that post settlement has not been adequately funded and the integration of government’s response can be improved. Given the economic slowdown, matters have worsened.
Presently, there are 35 land reform farms which have loans from the Land Bank and are struggling to meet their debt repayment obligations. Their situation is so critical that they are now due for legal action. When the Land Bank approached the Province in an attempt to assist to remedy the situation, a task team was established to investigate options to turn these entities around, so as to enable them to meet their obligations with the Bank.
The task team, through the assistance of private sector partners such as the Sugar Milling companies (Illovo and Tongaat), have developed sound turn-around strategies for these entities, where the sugar milling companies will render management oversight over these entities, skills development and capacity building for the beneficiaries, while the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development will assist with production inputs and mentorship through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme.
The department will also enter into negotiations with the Land Bank to re-structure the loans to suit the newly developed plan, and this will see these farms being able to service their loans with minimal future intervention from government.
In line with the integrated approach from government, a Special Purpose Vehicle aimed at addressing these challenges has been proposed and will be operational by September 2009, after approval by Cabinet. This vehicle aims to do the following:
* Consolidate post settlement support funds from different departments (National Department of Rural Development and Land Affairs, Provincial Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development and Department of Economic Development and Tourism)
* To bring together officials from various departments to offer a 'one-stop-shop' to farmers and which offers services such as the supply of equipment, the improvement of infrastructure, technical and business skills development, and facilitating access to credit
* To partner with key commodity associations e.g. sugar, timber, red meat etc.
We are optimistic that this vehicle will finally and comprehensively address post settlement challenges.
3.4 Makhathini Integrated Master Development Plan
The Makhathini area, has for long been recognised for its agricultural and tourism potential. Many ad hoc studies has been undertaken over the years, but these were all either focused on relatively small areas or only on one sector of the economy. Development of the area thus lagged behind and even though the area has huge potential, the area has huge gaps as far as social services are concerned.
Cabinet therefore instructed that an integrated plan be developed for the area, focusing on the agricultural and tourism sectors as drivers of the economy. This plan was developed in a very integrated manner with all stakeholders participating and with the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development as lead agent.
The plan aims to integrate all government activities and develop the two main economic driving sectors in the area; agriculture and tourism. This plan consists of two parts, the first covering the environmental issues, land related matters, agricultural development, supporting infrastructure for the plan as a whole including road development, telecommunications and electricity.
Repairs to the irrigation infrastructure such as pumps, balancing dams and pipes, in-field roads and fencing is progressing very well and I would like to take the members of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture up on their request to go on a site visit. As said earlier, I was there myself and would like them to also see government in action with active and positive participation of the farmers and local leadership.
The farmers are currently establishing primary cooperatives and a secondary cooperative and they will shortly make an offer to take over the cotton ginnery. My staff is also assisting the vegetable farmers with a business plan which will see this commodity expanding production, and value adding plans will soon be finalised with full involvement of the farmers. Livestock farmers will also see their sector being assisted with two livestock centres which include handling facilities, training facilities, auction facilities and facilities to safely store medicines. Fencing to allow proper grazing and management of herds is already progressing well.
Honourable members, this Master Plan has been approved with Mjindi Farming (Pty) Ltd as Implementing Agent. A new Board with a new mandate will be in place by September 2009. This is an integrated plan which can be used as a template for future integrated rural development plans.
The national Department of Agriculture has already committed R11 million, R7,5 million, R30 million and R60 million for the financial years 2008/09 to 2011/12. This will augment the department’s budget of R40million, R98,8 million and R104,7 million for 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12 respectively.
4. Environmental affairs
4.1 Review of the 2008/09 Financial Year
Honourable Speaker, the environment is critical not only in terms of the heritage and related outcomes. It embodies issues of access to development rights, conservation and consequently socio-economic development. I am happy to report the following achievements:
a. A five year environmental planning strategy that includes development planning, environmental sustainability monitoring and reporting and environmental information management was drafted in line with provincial strategies such as the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) and the Provincial Spatial Economic Development Strategy (PSEDS)
b. Environmentally sensitive areas were identified and mapped to expedite decision making
c) A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) to facilitate cooperative governance on environmental issues.
d) In terms of compliance and enforcement, the following was done:
- fifty four cases of alleged illegal commencement of listed activities were investigated and compliance notices or directives issued to alleged offenders.
- twenty-four section 24G (i.e. developments that commenced illegally) applications were dealt with and reviewed. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for compliance enforcement for provincial officials have also been implemented.
- 376 site inspections and 4 sector inspections conducted to monitor for compliance.
e. In terms of environmental quality management, the following was achieved;
- 28 municipalities, as well as the eThekwini Metro, entered the Cleanest Town Competition and uMhlathuze emerged as the winner.
In response to the global challenge of climate change and its impacts on sustainable development, a Provincial Climate Change Action Plan was initiated. The Climate Change Action Plan Committee has also been established which includes municipalities, government departments and other key stakeholders.
f. A total of 605 applications for environmental authorisation were received. During this financial year, 67,2% (target was 60%) of these applications were finalised within legislated timeframes compared to 40% last year. To further improve service delivery, a draft operational manual for the processing of Environment Management Act (NEMA) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) applications has been developed and EIA registers have been standardised.
g. Seven air quality ‘hotspots’ in the province have been monitored and no significant transgressions have been reported. An Emissions Inventory Database was established to identify areas of potentially poor air quality.
h. In response to the recent tidal surges the department has determined the KZN coastal erosion line and the development of the provincial risk evaluation strategy is nearing completion. The coastal erosion best practice guide ('Living with Coastal Erosion in KwaZulu-Natal') has been produced and distributed. An extensive awareness campaign was undertaken with municipalities.
i. The Invasive Alien Species Programme (IASP) created 5235 jobs and cleared 109 000 hectares of invasive alien trees.
j. The Environmental Management, won the Silver Award at the Premier’s Service Excellency Awards (on Batho Pele Excellence).
k. A number of environmental awareness events were held and 34 000 learners were reached.
l. Greening projects were a highlight during the report period and trees were planted at two low-cost housing schemes.
m. Two cooperatives were supported with fruit tree seedlings and a total of 4,400 trees were planted.
4.2 Outlook 2009/10
The focus for 2009/10 is to continue to improve efficiencies and service delivery in terms of providing support to our clients, contributing to the developmental state and addressing the various areas of concern. The focus will be on providing support to municipalities, addressing coastal erosion, improving the turn-around time for environmental authorisations and responding proactively to the challenge of climate change.
Environmental management is divided into various disciplines that include the following:
1. Pollution Control, Waste and Chemical Management
2. Air Quality and Climate Change
3. Coastal Management
4. EIA (assessment, impact mitigation, appeals, etc)
5. Environmental Planning and Municipal Support
6. Advisory and Empowerment
7. Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement
8. Invasive Alien Species Programme
4.2.1 Pollution Control, Waste and Chemical Management
The department is responsible for facilitating, implementing and coordinating effective integrated pollution and waste management practices within the Province. In terms of improvement, the focus will be on compliance and enforcement, emergency response, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement.
During the year the draft Provincial Integrated Hazardous Waste Management Plan will be produced. As our support to municipalities, we will facilitate the development of a total of nine District Integrated Waste Management Plans and the establishment and ongoing support of a total of eight waste recycling projects.
4.2.2 Air Quality Management and Climate Change
The monitoring of our air quality will continue given the relatively poor air quality at certain "hotspots" in the province. The Sugarcane Burning Policy for the KZN province will be finalised and the Health Study in Richards Bay which will take into consideration the health risks and asthma prevalence study amongst the communities would have commenced.
4.2.3 Coastal management
Given the excessive coastal erosion that we have experienced, we will continue to implement the KZN Coastal Erosion Programme. During the year we will also finalise the Coastal Management Policy. We will also focus on the ongoing implementation of the KZN Coastal Assets and Decision Support Programme and the Coastwatch Marine Cumulative Impacts Initiative (looking at marine outfalls and other sources of pollution).
4.2.4 Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
Our province has experienced a substantial growth in the number of application for development. This had placed a considerable strain on the limited resources of the department. In 2007/08 the number of applications that were finalised within the legislated timeframe was 40%. During 2008/09 the number that had been finalised was 66%.
We are confident that with the interventions that have taken place we will continue to improve the turnaround time in the finalisation of environmental authorisation (records of decision). With the impending amendments to the EIA Regulations, a programme will be developed and implemented to engage and empower our stakeholders (incl. provincial government, local authorities, traditional authorities, industries, Environmental Assessment Practitioners and the public).
4.2.5 Environmental planning and municipal support
The environmental management component of the department will continue to contribute to the development and implementation of IDPs and other municipal planning initiatives. An important aspect will be the provision of training of environmental staff and to stakeholders involved in spatial planning functions and in the roll-out the Strategic Environmental Assessments /Environmental Management Frameworks.
The aim is also to firmly establish the Provincial Committee for Environmental Coordination in order to improve intergovernmental relations on environmental issues. It is expected that the environmental information management system will be in place to facilitate decision-making and improve access to information to relevant stakeholders to incorporate into their planning initiatives.
4.2.6 Advisory and empowerment
Over the past few years the public has been confronted with a number of environmental issues. The department's environmental awareness programmes will focus on both rural and urban communities, the private sector and schools. The areas that we seek to improve capacity building is in the area of climate change through our greening programmes. This involves the mainstreaming of environment into large-scale public events, such as the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Capacity building programmes will be increased by integrating environmental education programmes into inter-departmental programmes. Critical in achieving the latter is the formulation of partnership programmes with both internal and external stakeholders, such as the private sector and other government departments. Other initiatives include the KZN Provincial Speech Contests, the intensification of the Eco-Village programme, commemorating the various environmental events and greening the province, particularly the planting of trees in low income houses and in rural areas.
4.2.7 Compliance monitoring and enforcement
The relatively new function of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement has experienced a substantial increase in its workload. As such, the standard operating procedures will be codified and contained in work procedure manuals, as this will ensure consistency in action across the districts that will be aligned to national procedures. In addition to this the training of our Environmental Management Inspectors will continue.
We will also persist with our sector compliance monitoring. In order to improve efficiencies, a standardised checklist will be developed to undertake the auditing of authorisations as well as a uniform reporting mechanism to improve the collation of information. The working relationship with the South African Police Service (SAPS) will be further strengthened, to ensure successful prosecutions, as well as with the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
4.2.8 Invasive Alien Species Programme (IASP)
The Invasive Alien Species Programme (IASP) apart from being tasked with the clearing of alien species, will also engage on projects relating to the invasive alien fauna (House Crow Project), training, value added industries (Eco Coffins Project) and emerging weeds projects. In carrying out these projects, we have created partnerships with EKZN Wildlife, Working on Fire, and Municipalities. A greater emphasis will be placed on improving cooperation with other departments, municipalities and relevant authorities such as traditional leaders, to ensure the sustainability of our projects.
It is expected that for the 2009/10 financial year the number of jobs that will be created is 4 000 and 110 000 hectares are planned to be cleared. All the people employed are in terms of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The type of training to be provided will be developmental in nature and will target the different categories of people employed as contractors and workers. With regard to value-adding, the department will continue to manufacture eco-coffins from the invasive alien plants that were obtained from the cleared areas. We will also conduct research on the extent and distribution of alien species invasion in KZN and also establishing the extent of invasion by emerging weed species e.g. parthenium.
5. Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife
Madam Speaker, the public entity, KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, trading as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife receives a substantial subsidy from the Department. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is a schedule 3(c) public entity established by the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Management Act, 1997.
5.1 Review of the 2008/09 financial year
During 2008/09 a number of achievements, including new developments were made. Some of these initiatives and projects are:
* A draft KZN Biodiversity Management Bill was developed which is due to be tabled soon. This Bill seeks to harmonize and unify the different pieces of legislation (both Provincial and National) that regulate and have an impact on Biodiversity Conservation Management in the province
* The Master Systems Plan (MSP) was approved and will be implemented to facilitate the Integration of EKZNW systems which include Finance, Asset Management, Supply Chain, Human Resource, Central Reservations and Property Management
* The KZN Biodiversity Stewardship Programme was launched. This programme is aimed at encouraging landowners to take responsibility for the conservation of their own land
* The organisation has adopted a Fraud Prevention Plan which advocates a zero tolerance to fraud and corruption. The plan also enables employees and all stakeholders to report anonymously on dishonest activities.
5.2 Outlook for 2009/10
5.2.1 Internal steps to address adverse 2008/09 audit
The organisation continues to implement measures to address areas of concern that resulted in adverse audit opinion and applying measures to combat fraud and corruption. Some major projects in this regard include:
* organisation-wide fixed assets verification and tagging
* exploring the automation and tightening of controls of our major gates
* monitoring and follow-up on tips-offs from the fraud hotline
* implementing recommendations from the Forensic Audit report.
5.2.2 Tourism accommodation and infrastructure
As part of the strategy to harness the opportunities the 2010 World Cup offers, an amount of R20 million will be spent on uplifting the infrastructure in the following facilities: Umlalazi, Midmar, Hilltop, Mpila, Sodwana Bay, Giants Castle, Didima, Ntshondwe and Royal Natal.
An amount of R26 million will be spent on the improvement of roads that lead to visitor facilities. A significant portion of the Enterprise Resource Plan roll out involves the upgrade of the Central Reservations System and Resort Management Systems. These systems will vastly improve customer satisfaction and convenience as well as improve internal controls.
5.2.4 State of the biodiversity report
In an effort to better understand the efficiency of the organisation with regards to the super ordinate objective which is to increase the state of biodiversity in KZN for the benefit of people, a project will be undertaken to determine the actual state of biodiversity by means of a state of biodiversity report.
5.2.5 New board of directors
Madam Speaker, with regard to the Board of Directors, I wish to report that a call for nominations for new Board Members was recently advertised. Appointments will be finalised by the end of August 2009.
5.3.6 2009 to 2014 strategic plan
Dr Bandile Mkhize has recently been appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, the organisation has now crafted a 2009/14 strategic plan which focuses on 'Building Towards 2010 Service Excellence and Beyond'. Part of this strategy involves an improvement in the working relationship between communities and EKZNW.
6. Presentation of budget by programme
Madam Speaker, having provided the outlook for 2009/10, I wish to specify budget allocation per programme:
6.1 Programme 1: Administration: R252,8 million
6.2 Programme 2: Agricultural Development Services: R1,106 billion
6.3 Programme 3: Environmental Services: R194,9 million
6.4 Programme 4: Conservation: R396,3 million
7. Concluding remarks
Madam Speaker, as I come to the end of the speech, the message in the state of the nation address by his Excellency J.G. Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa is indelible where he says; "Abantu basemakhaya nabo banelungelo lokusizwa kwezolimo ukuze batshale imifino nokunye bafuye nemfuyo bakwazi ukuziphilisa".
Lastly but not least, Madam Speaker, allow me at this juncture to thank the Honourable Premier, my colleagues in the Executive, all Honourable members of this House my senior management the staff members and the people of KwaZulu-Natal for the continued support to the various programmes of this department. I have no doubt that with the cooperation of all the stakeholders we will deliver on our mandate and we shall ensure that the ravages of poverty shall no longer continue to afflict communities and the land.
I thank you.
