Question NW2049 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
19 October 2021 - NW2049
Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether, given reports that the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal in July 2021 resulted in the destruction of sugar cane from small-scale farmers, causing such cane to be subsequently rejected by mills, her department has undertaken any steps to ascertain the impact of the July 2021 civil unrest on agricultural communities involved in sugar cane farming in KwaZulu-Natal; if not, why not; if so, what (a) were the findings and (b) steps will her department take to ensure that affected small-scale sugar cane farmers receive support to enable them to survive the impact of the unrest on their farming operations?
Reply:
a) The sugarcane industry is regulated by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and they have assessed the damage. Initial assessments have been undertaken and further information was also requested from the industry.
b) All those industries which were affected by the unrests will apply to the Sasria Insurance and National Empowerment Fund (NEF).