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The ANC-led Gauteng administration is not doing enough to support small scale farming co-operatives despite having mechanisms meant to provide funding and necessary support to these initiatives.

During a Democratic Alliance oversight inspection of the Bright Future Agricultural Co-operative Limited in Soshanguve South in Tshwane yesterday, we were amazed to discover that this co-operative has been flourishing without any assistance from the government.

The Bright Future Agricultural Co-operative is primarily farming okra and spinach. They use the okra to manufacture their own coffee called ‘Okriasco coffee’. They supply their spinach to supermarkets around the area and sell their coffee locally.

The co-operative is unable to keep up with the demand for coffee due to a lack of resources and funding.

Despite being recognised by different government institutions for their hard work, this co-operative has been denied funding by most of these institutions.

The founder of this co-operative, which is run by four women and one man, Phindi Zwane, won the 2017 Township Entrepreneur Awards under the category of the Women Entrepreneur of the Year.

However, having leased the land from the City of Tshwane for 15 years, they are facing numerous challenges ranging from lack of funding, stolen borehole pipes and equipment and no fence around the plot. They also have not been visited this year by the allocated extension officer from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture.

They are also in need of greenhouses so that they can plant okra throughout the year as it is a seasonal crop.

Entrepreneurs such as these deserve to be supported as they are examples of the dedication and hard work needed for success.

They play an important role in poverty alleviation and job creation as they have employed 18 local seasonal workers mostly youth and women.

The DA believes that if the government prioritises such businesses, it will help to boost local township economies and assist local people to create employment opportunities.

The DA will write to the MEC for Economic Development and Agriculture and Rural Development, Lebogang Maile, to ascertain why this co-operative has been denied any assistance from the government.

Come 2019, when the DA governs Gauteng we will bring change which ensures that we provide all the necessary support to such entrepreneurs in order to create job opportunities and boost township economies.

Issued by DA