Issued by: Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs
Parliament recently passed the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act. Amongst others, the Act provides for the establishment of a National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), and provides for matters connected there with. The Council contemplated in the Act will consist of ten members, who should have practical knowledge and experience of the subject matter, and will represent certain categories as prescribed in the Act.
As Minister for Agriculture, it has been my task to establish a selection committee of not more than seven members, to whom all the nominations of prospective members of the Council were referred. The selection committee is to compile a shortlist of candidates in accordances with the provisions of the Act. This shortlist will then be submitted to the Secretary to Parliament for submission to the Parliamentary committees.
In view of their proven expertise and standing, the following persons have been appointed to serve as members of the Selection Committee: Ms Nomsundo Mqade; Ms Janet Love; Prof Mohale Mahanyele; Dr Piet Gous; Mr Chris du Toit; Mr T Toto; Mr Mandla Gxanyana.
The Committee held its first meeting on 5 November 1996 in Cape Town. After discussing the 75 nominations received, the Committee members were unanimous in their opinion that the nominations did not sufficiently cover the different categories stipulated in the Act and also did not include a sufficient number of women candidates.
To enable the Committee to achieve its aim of compiling a short list covering the broad spectrum of representation on the NAMC as envisaged by the Act, I would like to invite further nominations for consideration by the Committee. This applies especially to the categories representing "consumer issues relating to agricultural products, including issues relating to previously disadvantaged communities" and "the production and marketing of agricultural products by small scale and previously disadvantaged farmers."
The closing date for additional nominations is 19 November 1996 at 17:00. Correspondence should be addressed to JSG Joubert, Chief Director: Economics and Marketing, Department of Agriculture, Private Bag X250, Pretoria, 0001. Nominations could also be delivered to Dirk Uys Building, Hamilton Street, Arcadia - or faxed to (012) 319-6071. Nominations should include full CV's candidates' acceptance of nominations; whether candidates are prepared to serve part-time or permanently, and which category a specific nomination pertains to.
ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY FOR AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS, 6 NOVEMBER 1996