Speech by the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Honourable Lulu Xingwana Member of Parliament (MP) Gauteng AgriBEE breakfast Birchwood Executive Hotel and Conference Centre

Programme director
MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Hon. Khabisi Mosunkutu
Members of the Provincial Portfolio Committee for Agriculture, Conversation and Environment
The CEO of the OBP
Representatives from National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC)
Representatives from National African Farmers Union (NAFU) Gauteng province
Representatives from AgriSA
Representatives from various banking and financial institutions present here today
The leadership of Woman in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD) in the Gauteng province,
Malibongwe Igama LamaKhosikazi, Malibongwe
Representatives from Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (YARD)
Members of the National Youth Commission
Farmers
People living with disabilities
Senior officials from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen

MEC Lulu Xingwana, on 21 February 2008 I was in Cape Town in the Western Cape province officiating on their third Annual AgriBEE showcasing event hosted by Premier Ebrahim Rasool and his MEC for Agriculture, Honourable Cobus Dowry.

During the proceedings I mentioned the fact that our agricultural sector was facing various challenges ranging from local resources which were under pressure to global economic slowdowns and turbulences. However, I said, through our co-ordinated efforts and actions which include sustainable empowerment initiatives, the challenges can be absorbed and turned into successes. I said our capacity to deliver can be expanded by successfully involving institutions such as Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (WARD) and Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (YARD), people living with disabilities, farm workers and farm dwellers. The integration of these institutions within the agricultural sector can assist to ease capacity challenges and help with mobilisation efforts.

I therefore appeal to you as sector stakeholders to work together and exploit synergies successfully to grow this important economic sector. In July 2004, we launched the AgriBEE framework. Subsequently MEC Mosunkutu held a provincial consultative workshop on AgriBEE in November 2004. The recommendations from this workshop were sent to my office as an input into the process of consultations towards an AgriBEE Charter. This was to be the beginning of the creation of the guidelines. Today, the finalisation of the broad-based guidelines for economic empowerment within the agricultural sector has shifted actions into higher gear with emphasis on implementation and impact. In this regard, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that the Minister for Trade and Industry has approved our application for the AgriBEE Sector Transformation Charter to be gazetted in terms of Section 12 of the broad based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) Act (2003). I am now impatiently waiting for the gazetting itself.

In the meantime, the national Department of Agriculture is also in the process of finalising the formation of the AgriBEE Council. This morning I listened with keen interest to the presentation of your strategic plan for implementation of the Charter and it was pleasing to note that the plan is indeed in line with the promotion of economic transformation in the sector. I have no doubt in my mind that this will enable meaningful participation of black people in the economy of Gauteng province.

MEC Lulu Xingwana, now that the dispensation and mechanisms for broad-based transformation are in place, efforts can be evaluated and measured against determined indicators. This phase in itself has the ability to expand agriculture's share to the national economy and other social and macro economic goals. I urge you as sector partners to continue engaging with efforts to validate the empowerment base in agriculture. Without spending time highlighting key priority areas within our transformation agenda, allow me to point out skills development. The national Department of Agriculture together with its provincial departments, agencies and Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) will further improve efforts to contribute to skills enhancement for the benefit of the sector at large. Skills opportunities remain an important entry point into the mainstreaming of the economy and I salute all impact-directed efforts towards a skilled agricultural sector.

MEC, the features of unprecedented growth in the economy which are experienced locally have to continue to spill over to our sector as well, providing enterprising and job opportunities and in so doing contributing to the 2014 vision of halving poverty amongst our people. The agricultural sector must continue in its contributing efforts towards attaining a better life for all South Africans. More so because agriculture is at the forefront of the urban and rural economic development and this is manifested in our involvement across public and private sector programme initiatives.

MEC, before I conclude let me take this opportunity to express government‘s concern about the consistent electricity supply disruptions facing the country during this period which impacts on the economy, citizens and the country's image. As you know, government has had a series of meetings with stakeholders to discuss approaches to dealing with this challenge and agreed on power rationing which calls for a 10% reduction in consumption. We are confident that we have the ability to turn the situation around. We reassure the South African community and the world at large that the 2010 FIFA World Cup is not under threat and plans to ensure security of supply in that period are at an advanced stage.

All traffic lights and public lights will be converted to solar power with a battery backup. This is another extensive project that will cost approximately R400 million and will also be another opportunity for employment creation and skills development. In the event of electricity supply disruptions on traffic lights, working together with the municipalities and the Department of Transport, traffic officials will be deployed to assist in the management of traffic. All sectors of society are therefore called upon to work together to address this challenge; to deal with issues that need addressing; to promote energy efficiency and that as a nation we display our collective confidence that we will more than meet our obligations to find an inclusive solution to the electricity generation problem. To echo President Thabo Mbeki's sentiments during his recent State of the Nation Address: "Let us ensure that all hands are on deck to address the turbulence that has hit us."

In conclusion, I would like to thank people behind the organising of the breakfast and most heartily the presentation of the strategic plan for implementation. Your contribution is valued towards a refined set of good practices which can guide and reference future empowerment efforts. To the MEC, thanks for hosting and receiving the important stakeholders of South Africa's agricultural sector.

Business Unusual: All hands on deck to speed up change.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Agriculture
7 March 2008