Question NW49 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
04 July 2019 - NW49
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
What is the total amount of revenue collected from the leasing of state-owned forests in the 2018-19 financial year?
Reply:
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) indirectly manages 230 264 hectares of State plantations (Category A) through lease agreements signed with four forestry companies. The companies are MTO Forestry (Pty) Ltd; Amathole Forestry (Pty) Ltd; SiyaQhubeka Forest (Pty) Ltd; and Singisi Forest Products (Pty) Ltd. In addition to this, an area of 187 320.27 hectares is managed by the South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL), which is a State-owned company.
In January of every year, the forestry companies pay lease rental into the DAFF bank account. The lease rental money is then transferred and invested with the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) in an interest bearing account which is administered by DAFF. The balance as of 31 March 2019 is R788 397 015.
Rental Money collected during the 2018/19 financial year
|
Forestry package |
Leaseholder |
Date of lease signature |
Extent (ha) |
Lease rental collected from 01 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 in Rands |
|
MTO |
MTO Pty Ltd. |
24 Jan 2005 |
57 061(ha) |
4 708 502,31 |
|
AMATHOLE |
Amathole Pty Ltd |
24-Jan-2005 |
25 405(ha) |
3 273 446,00 |
|
SQF |
SQF Pty Ltd |
06 Mar 2001 |
21 956(ha) |
14 113 388,54 |
|
SINGISI |
Singisi Forests Products Pty Ltd |
06 Mar 2001 |
76 563(ha) |
10 485 743,67 |
|
Total |
32 581 080,40 |
Source: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Regards
MS B CREECY, MP
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT FISHERIES AND FORESTRY
DATE: . . ...