Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry has adopted its resolutions following a recent meeting with the sugar industry in which it requests the Minister of Trade and Industry to consider amending the Sugar Act of 1978.

Committee Chairperson, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs, said the resolutions follows two meetings the Committee had with role-players in this industry since October 2017.

The Committee, in compliance with the rules of the National Assembly and the Constitution, resolved that the South African Sugar Association (SASA) and the South African Cane Growers Association (SACGA) should comply with the instructions issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in letters dated 20 April and 20 October 2017.

The Committee indicated that it expected a report back from the DTI on its progress in resolving the non-compliance. In the event of SASA not beginning to implement the instruction of the DTI, the Committee would request the relevant body to consider suspending the levies with immediate effect.

Ms Fubbs said the Committee further resolved that the Minister should consider withdrawing the regulations and amending the Sugar Act. The Committee will have a follow-up meeting on this matter on 29 November 2017.

 

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, Joanmariae Fubbs