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The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Bulelani Magwanishe says the grant of almost R50 million from the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has contributed to the creation of 300 permanent and 500 contract jobs in Modjadjiskloof, Limpopo, by a food manufacturing company, Eastern Trading, which trades as Dursot All Joy. 

Magwanishe was speaking during the launch the company firm’s expansion project in Modjadjiskloof today.

The company was funded by the dti through its Black Industrialists Scheme to the tune of R48 million for machinery that has resulted in the company increasing its production and creating more jobs.

“As government we are inspired by the risk and courage demonstrated by the owners of this company in their commendable efforts to help government create the much-needed jobs and contribute in growing the economy.

As beneficiaries of government’s policy intervention in the form of our Black Industrialists Programme, we are honoured to see the impact that we are making in partnership with the private sector in the community of Modjadjiskloof and surrounding areas,” said Magwanishe.

He added that the expansion project undertaken by Dursot All Joy perfectly illustrated what government was capable of doing in order to assist companies increase their production efficiency, job-creation and global competitiveness.

Magwanishe said Dursot All Joy found a niche in the agro-processing sector to the investment value of R120 million.  The targeted production of tomato related foods ensures premium quality food for local and impending global markets. Modern technology installed through the Black Industrialists Scheme, has enabled the company to triple their production.

With a processing of approximately 500 tonnes of raw tomatoes; Eastern trading is now afforded the opportunity to be competitive in relation to modern standards of manufacturing.

“As an enterprise advancing industrialisation and manufacturing, this company will contribute in changing the racial composition of our economy, inclusive growth and job creation.

I must commend the owners of Dursot All Joy for challenging the dimensions of food security and to lead us to an understanding of food sovereignty. This is where we internalise our call for ownership of production lines, localise and build domestic markets without doubt, and to additionally support local procurement,” said Magwanishe.

Magwanishe also he was pleased that local farmers will be benefiting from Dursot’s expansion efforts after they established a “Tomato Out-grower Scheme” which aims to empower small-scale tomato growers.

“The surrounding local areas benefiting from the scheme are individual local farmers and co-operatives from Tzaneen, Giyani and Musina.  As a result, a market for small scale-farmers has been created, to trade their products to the company. The scheme has also contracted 80 developing farmers and 10 commercial farmers. Through this, the growers have benefited value in the form of training, supervision and growing of the crops,” added Magwanishe

Issued by Department of Trade and Industry