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Mr Chairman, not far from here, on the Cape Flats, is a very successful farming community -- the vegetable farmers of Philippi. My contribution today will be about them, and the role they play in contributing to our food security.

The Philippi farming area covers some 5 square kilometers in the middle of the Cape Metropolitan Area. The northern boundary is Lansdowne road next to Hanover Park; the Western boundary is Strandfontein Road next to Ottery and Grassy Park; the Southern Boundary is the proposed False Bay freeway next to Strandfontein Village; and the Eastern boundary is Vanguard drive next to Samora Machel and Mitchell's Plain.

Most of the 30 odd farmers in the area today are fourth and fifth generation descendents of German immigrants of the late nineteenth century. These immigrants were given land in an area which the then colonial government regarded as a wasteland, but through sheer hard work and dedication they and their descendants transformed their small farms into the extremely productive units which they are today.

Today they cultivate some 1 100 hectares, and the area is often referred to as the larder of Cape Town.And for very good reason. It is estimated that the value of annual production exceeds R200 million.

In 1990 approximately 54% of all vegetables sold at the Cape Town Fresh Produce Market came from Philippi, and some 54 different kinds of vegetables were produced in the area. Today the area produces substantially larger volumes, and apart from supplying to the Cape Town Fresh Produce Market increasing volumes go directly to private distribution centres and enter the cold chain to ensure a longer shelf life. Supermarkets such as Pick ‘n Pay, Fruit and Veg City, Checkers and Woolworths in the Cape Town area are bulk buyers of Philippi products.

Substantial volumes are also exported to Namibia and other African states. Some products, for example carrots, are also exported to European retailers, including Tesco.

Various secondary industries have also been established over the years, including nurseries, packaging facilities, organic fertiliser processing, a cooperative, a race-horse training and breeding centre and mechanical and implements manufacturing and repair facilities. These industries provide an additional 400 to 500 employment opportunities.

Mnr die Voorsitter, ongeveer 2 000 arbeiders werk aktief op die plase, en ongeveer 70% van hulle is ongeskoolde inwoners van naburige nedersettings, en baie van hulle is vroue. Die gebied is dus ‘n betekenisvolle werkverskaffer op die Kaapse Vlakte.

Die gebied het uitstekende grond- en klimaatsomstandighede vir groenteverbouing en daarby ook die voordeel van voldoende grondwater. In baie gevalle word tussen 3 en 5 oeste per hektaar per jaar verbou deur wisselbou toe te pas, wat meebring dat werkers vir die grootste deel van die jaar van werk verseker is.

Van die vernaamste produkte wat geproduseer word is: kopkool, blomkool, kropslaai, 10 ander verskillende soorte sogenaamde ‘fancy'slaai, wortels, beet, spinasie, seldery, pietersielie, raap, murgpampoentjies, prei, uie, aartappels, soet rissies, gewone rissies, botterskorsies, pampoen, skorsies, en verskillende soorte kruie. Daar word ook intensief snyblomme gekweek, onder meer in plastiese tonnels, met varke geboer en melkerye bedryf.

Vrugteventers en plaaslike verspreiders koop in baie gevalle ook produkte regstreeks op die plase aan en verkoop dit in die omliggende woongebiede en verder.

Mr Chairman, I am told that these farmers have never ever in their existence of 130 years requested any aid from the government, even in hard times. There can be no doubt that this is an extremely valuable and indispensable farming area in the Western Cape, which should be nurtured at all costs.

Due to its location and proximity to residential areas the area is likely to increasingly come under threat from developers who are prepared to pay exorbitant prices for land. The first signs are already there. We should not allow that to happen. Selling off one piece of farming land, even on the fringes, will set a process in motion which will be difficult to stop and which could jeopardise the agricultural contribution of the area and threaten food security in our city and province.

Should this be allowed, the big loser will not only be Philippi, but Cape Town, the Western Cape and South Africa and the tens of thousands of consumers who eat Philippi products each day without even realising where they came from.

Consistency of food supply - food security - is needed, and this area plays a critical part in the greater Cape Town area, and even beyond.

Allow me, Sir, to end on a more personal note. 35 years ago, almost to the day, I started work as a young Hansard Reporter on the gallery of this very chamber, and in later years sat as a Secretary at the Table. It is therefore with nostalgia and also a real sense of appreciation of the responsibility of my new role that I stand here today.

In my time here I had seen many a good and many a not-so-good politician operate in this Chamber!

In closing I wish to pay tribute to just four of them, who from these benches helped shape the democratic South Africa that we all enjoy today.

Together with others they fought for many years, against the overwhelming odds, for the principles of the rule of law, equality, human rights and opportunity - those same principles which my party today proudly espouses.

I refer to Helen Suzman, Colin Eglin, Alex Boraine and Frederick Van Zyl-Slabbert.

I am privileged to be able to honour their legacy here today.

I thank you.