Question NW2366 to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Reply:

1. With reference to his reply to question 463 on 13 April 2015, have the workers on (a) Magwa and (b) Majola tea plantations in the Eastern Cape been paid as at the latest specified date for which information is available; if not, why not; if so, are all payments up to date;

• Yes the monies for the worker payments for 2015/16 have been paid to the respective estates.

2. has any further funding been provided to (a) Magwa and (b) Majola tea plantations; if so, (i) how much funding has been provided to each specified plantation and (ii) by whom;

• No further funding additional to that paid over for wages is available, However, a request for additional funding to value of R 66 mil for the revitalisation of the two estates has been prepared and submitted to treasury. A response is awaited.

3.(a) what is his department’s long-term plan in relation to the two specified tea plantations and (b) what steps does he intend taking to get them functioning again?             

• Yes, long term plans have been developed and includes, amongst others, institutional reforms, market oriented production and support from private stakeholders and labour. Diversification to alternative enterprises is part of the proposed steps.            
• A submission for the funding of the long term development plan has been submitted to Treasury for potential funding