Question NW3302 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
27 October 2022 - NW3302
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether, in view of media reports of the terrible condition of the buildings and animals at the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture, she will provide the (a) reasons for the deterioration of the upkeep of the specified college and animals and (b) relevant details of (i) how her department intends to improve the specified conditions at the college, (ii) the detailed budget allocation towards the upkeep of the college in each year of the past 10 financial years and (iii) the work done at the college to maintain the college in the past 10 financial years; if not, why not, in each specified case; if so, what are the relevant details in each specified case?
Reply:
(a) The upkeep and day-to-day maintenance of this College is administered by the North the West Provincial Department of Agriculture as College is currently residing and reporting under that Department.
(b)(i) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) are in a process of transferring Colleges of Agriculture to a national competence and having them declared as Higher Education Colleges governed by the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997) but will be funded and managed administratively under the Minister responsible for Agriculture. This will benefit the Colleges in that DHET has established programmes for support to Higher Education Institutions, developing needy colleges towards attaining semi-autonomy and eventually full autonomy to Colleges leading to quicker decision-making and more effective implementation of decisions. College of Agriculture students as well will be able to access bursaries from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) as it is only available to students at higher education institutions. Collaborations and coordination within the Higher Education sector will assist in improving the conditions of the Colleges of Agriculture especially in respect of infrastructure that supports curriculum offerings.
(b)(ii) The Potchefstroom College of Agriculture is administered by the North West Provincial Department of Agriculture, however, DALRRD provides support to the College through the College Revitalisation Plan since 2012. The allocations over the years are as follows:
|
Financial year |
Name of College |
Allocation |
|
2011/2012 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R4 500 000,00 |
|
2012/2013 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R6 000 000,00 |
|
2013/2014 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R7 524 000,00 |
|
2014/2015 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R10 000 000,00 |
|
2015/2016 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R11 800 000,00 |
|
2016/2017 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R9 500 000,00 |
|
2017/2018 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R7 000 000,00 |
|
2018/2019 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R7 000 000,00 |
|
2019/2020 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R2 986 000,00 |
|
2020/2021 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R2 466 000,00 |
|
2021/2022 |
Potchefstroom College of Agriculture |
R8 500 000,00 |
|
Total |
R77 276 000,00 |
(b)(iii) The following Infrastructure, equipment and machinery were developed or procured at Potchefstroom College of Agriculture through Colleges Revitalisation Plan since 2012.
|
New building constructed |
Buildings renovated |
Procurement of equipment and machinery |
Others |
|
|
|
|