MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs L Johnson, on the occasion of the official opening of the Ethekwini South Sub-District Offices

Programme director
Portfolio Committee Members
Mayors present
Amakhosi present
Senior officials of the department
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Morning/ Sanibonani

Today we have convened here at Umbumbulu on a positive note and in high spirits. It is the wish of all citizens that the services they need can be accessed without incurring high costs. It is in recognition of that legitimate wish that the department decided to establish the Ethekwini South Sub-District Office which is popularly known as Umbumbulu Office. This Office operates under eThekwini District which falls under South Region.

In line with the Batho Pele principle of Increasing Access, the department has resolved to build brand new offices for the community of Umbumbulu and the surrounding areas, so that they access our services right on their door step. The principle states “Access to information and services empowers citizens and creates value for money, quality services. It reduces unnecessary expenditure for the citizens”. The construction of these offices is a 100% response by the department to the Batho Pele principles and a sign of commitment to creating a caring government that is resolute on building a better life for all South Africans by putting the people first.

We are currently in an election period where our government is expected to renew its social contract with the electorate at a local government level. You will hear new promises from different political formations about how best they can deliver on these principles once they are in government. I am therefore pleased that you will be able to relate to what, whoever will emerge as a winner above all parties, will need to do once he/she assumes power. Today’s event brings real meaning to what I have just alluded to and I am indeed content that you will participate in these elections fully aware of what you will be giving your vote for.

I am sure that that Amakhosi (PP Luthuli, KT Mkhize, KS Makhanya, T Maphumulo, EBT Mkhize, EB Shozi, M Cele, N Hlengwa and MJ Mqadi), are very excited that their subjects, for whom they care so much, can now access services they need to be in charge of their own lives. The department has a team of dedicated employees in this office under the stewardship of Mr Mjwarha who is the manager in charge of everything. The office in accordance with business ethics and government policies will render services in this community with efficiency, humility and professionalism; anything less or contrary to that will be unacceptable and should be reported. As government and indeed the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development, we are committed to rendering an excellent service to our people. We are however very much aware of the challenges that have plagued the system of service delivery but nonetheless continue to strive for excellence while we deal with the challenges.

This office is an addition to more than 40 other well established offices across the province, which is a way of ensuring our foot print in all areas. This beautiful and modern structure is well equipped with the necessary required tools for our employees to be able to work efficiently. It’s brand new, beautiful and within reach. I trust that it becomes a beacon of hope for all communal farmers here and should therefore be utilised to yield positive outcomes for farming in this area. I know that most community members here embrace agricultural activities. I learnt through the Indigenous knowledge Expo last year that there are some cooperatives that are using the indigenous knowledge farming practices, in producing Amadumbe and that is laudable. As the department we want to support such initiatives and more.

The Umbumbulu Office has 28 extension staff who serves 52 wards. This Office supports 210 community development projects. The office drives the following departmental programmes like mechanisation, food security, livestock and mushroom.

Mechanisation programme:

During the financial year 2010/11 this office has assisted the community with land preparation and maize and beans inputs in 75ha of land, and in the new financial year it intends to prepare 150ha for the community. It also intends to plant 16 ha of potatoes in the months of May and June 2011.

• Food Security: As part of the War on Poverty, the community is provided with seed scoops so that they are able to produce in their gardens and their homesteads. With this programme this office has facilitated the establishment of 41 600 homestead gardens.
• Livestock programme: This office has renovated the Luthuli piggery project at Georgedale, provided Mophela and Magigi projects with feed (36tons per project). It has also supported 25 poultry projects with technical know-how, and Livestock Farmers Association with Livestock Identification Mark (Branding). Plans to establish a 4 000 bird layer project which will focus at supplying School and Hospital feeding scheme, are under way.
• Mushroom programme: this office has established a pilot project at Mvelase farm where 150 substrates have been planted and the produce is sold locally.

The Japanese say that when you give a man fish you feed him for a day, but when you give him a rod to fish for himself, you feed him for life. In our culture, when someone settles into a community, he is given a bull and a cow so that when the cow gives birth to a calf, he returns the loan livestock and starts his own herd. That way, your neighbour is fed for life. I, therefore, call on the community to use the services offered by the Office, like mechanisation, as their rod to fish for themselves. Getting handouts destroys a person’s dignity. It is thus important that our people resuscitate their passion for agriculture which will not only help them with food security but also with economic prosperity.

I am very grateful to the eThekwini Municipality which is helping in accelerating service delivery, especially mechanisation, in urban areas (townships). I am also grateful to non-governmental organisation and community based organisations for their help in rural areas.

I also commend the department’s staff for a job well done in providing services to the community. Keep it up because I am not your boss. Your bosses are the people who need the agricultural services and Amakhosi. Without them, none of us would have salaries.

I thank you.