“Agri SA therefore wholeheartedly supports the economic solutions outlined in the State of the Nation Address to turn the country around and to create a future of hope, social cohesion and prosperity for all” Dan Kriek, President of Agri SA stated.

Significant emphasis was placed on the need to create jobs, advancing transformation and establishing an ethical, caring and service orientated state fraternity at municipal level, provincial and national level. Agri SA also welcomes the announcement to clamp down on corruption in state departments as well as the private sector.

We enthusiastically applaud the practical steps outlined to ensure policy certainty, reduce government departments, grow the local economy, attract investments, boost the manufacturing sector and grow the small business environment, Kriek added.

The establishment of local economic zones, the review of SARS and state-owned enterprises, appointment of the right people as well as implementing a wide range of social and economic interventions in the small business sector, agriculture, mining, tourism and other sectors are also welcomed. Agri SA pledges its co-operation to ensure the achievement of all the outcomes related to these plans.

Prioritising the economy and the role of entrepreneurs was also a key feature of the address. Agri SA, therefore, calls on the President to seize the opportunity and exploit the goodwill on offer from local and international investors. The emphasis on promoting partnerships between business, labour, government and the public is to be welcomed as well as the plans outlined to develop our young people.

However, such a bold vision cannot be tarnished by excluding anyone or a particular community. The plans announced by the President should be inclusive of all the people of South Africa regardless of race, colour, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age or physical constraints.

The National Constitution demands of all of us to build a united and non-racial society and to nurture the talent and honour the contribution of all our people. South Africa remains a highly divided nation and it is through honouring the dignity of every South African, inclusivity and mutual respect that this divide can be bridged.

However, Agri SA is highly concerned with the contradictory statements related to acknowledging agriculture as the biggest contributor the past quarters in terms of economic growth and job creation, whilst in the same breath calling for the expropriation of land without compensation. Not only does it subvert the letter and spirit of Section 25 of our National Constitution, but it also entrenches the perception that the governing party has no regard for the founding principles of our newly founded democracy.

The question also remains: From whom will land be expropriated and to whom will it be given? Such populist statements will do more harm than good and contradicts the underlying theme of the State of the Nation Address to grow the sector through investment to unleash its fullest potential.

Agri SA, therefore, appeals to the President to rather desist from such populist rhetoric and to engage with the commercial agricultural industry to find amicable solutions to the land question.

Agri SA is developing its own land transformation plan that will be commercially driven and will aim to increase national production significantly without having to change the constitution – Omri van Zyl (Executive Director) added.

“Undermining the notion of private ownership and still expecting the private sector to enthusiastically embrace partnerships between themselves and the state will not happen” van Zyl added.

It is through win-win partnerships and policy certainty that the vision of a safe, productive and content South African society can be realised.   

 Issued by Agri SA, Directorate:  Corporate Liaison

Enquiries

Mr Dan Kriek, President Agri SA, 082 944 0566

Mr Omri van Zyl, Executive Director, Agri SA, 082 417 5724

The post Agri SA Media Release: State of Nation Address appeared first on Agri Limpopo.

Daar is aanvanklik verwag dat hierdie datum 22 April sou wees, maar dit is kort daarna verander na 12 April. Dit is later geskuif na 16 April, en daarna weer verander na onderskeidelik 11 Mei, 4 Junie en 9 Julie. Day Zero is nou onbepaald uitgestel. Die Stad het omvattende gebeurlikheidsplanne rondom die mobilisering van hulpbronne voorberei om 25-liter drinkbare water per persoon per dag te voorsien. Reëlings is getref vir die water om by sekere aangewese punte oral in die Stad afgehaal te word.

Die Stad se gebruik van hierdie scenario is voorheen bevraagteken deur verskeie watersektor-rolspelers, insluitend die landbousektor. Boere moes sedert 12 Januarie 2018 in baie gevalle sonder hul regmatige watertoedeling klaarkom as gevolg van nasionaal-ingestelde en streng toegepaste waterbeperkings. Dit het aanleiding gegee tot geweldige verliese en ontbering vir die landbougemeenskap, insluitend werksverliese vir seisoenale plaaswerkers.

Hoewel dit klaarblyklik gewone Kapenaars se aandag op die erns van die huidige droogte gevestig het, is dit moontlik dat hierdie scenario toevallig ook sy eie onvoorsiene waterbestuurskrisis geskep het. Paniekbevange inwoners (wat dit kon bekostig) het begin om rou- sowel as behandelde water op te berg in afwagting van Dag Zero. Hierdie ontwrigting van normale verbruikspatrone het geweldige probleme vir die Stad se waterbeplanners asook die Departement van Water en Sanitasie geskep.

Hoewel die Stad erken dat sy beraming van watervoorsiening hersien is as gevolg van ‘n vermindering in die landbou se waterverbruik, het dit versuim om erkenning te gee aan die landbousektor se volgehoue pogings in dié verband of die rampspoedige effek van die droogte op die landbousektor. Volgens Agri SA se hoof van Natuurlike Hulpbronne, Janse Rabie, skep die aankondiging (en herroeping) van Dag Zero die indruk dat dit ‘n vals alarm was waarvoor die landbousektor nou moet betaal.

“Terwyl ons dankbaar is dat Dag Zero nou blykbaar afgeweer is, moet mense besef dat die huidige droogte geensins verby is nie. Dit bly steeds ‘n nasionale ramp wat veral in die landbousektor van die Wes-Kaap by die dag erger word. Ons versoek alle regeringsvlakke om deurgaans te fokus op die erns van die droogte en om die kritieke droogtehulpmaatreëls vir die landbousektor te verbeter,” se Rabie.

Terwyl Dag Zero blykbaar afgeweer is, sleep die droogte in die provinsie en die Stad voort. Die Nasionale Waterbeperkings van 12 Januarie 2018, sowel as die Stad se Vlak 6b Waterbeperkings, is steeds in plek en mense is gevra om te voldoen aan die voorskrifte, onder andere ‘n beperking op hul persoonlike waterverbruik, d.w.s. hoogstens 50 liters per persoon per dag.

Uitgereik deur Agri SA, Direktoraat: Korporatiewe Skakeling

Navrae

Mnr Janse Rabie: Agri SA Hoof van Natuurlike Hulpbronne, 076 451 9601

The post Agri SA Mediaverklaring: Dag Zero mag afgeweer word in Kaapstad appeared first on Agri Limpopo.