Question NW2985 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
10 November 2023 - NW2985
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether she will furnish Mr N P Masipa with details relating to (a) the expenses incurred for each event during her engagements with the villagers of the Moletjie and Matlala in Polokwane, (b)(i) farming equipment given to small-scale farmers (ii) the criteria applied in the beneficiary selection process and (iii) any other relevant expenses incurred by her department during the visits, (c) how she plans to (i) collaborate with the SA Police Service to address the challenges of stock theft and (ii) address the lack of (aa) animal fencing and (bb) fences and camps for livestock that straddle the provincial roads and (d)(i) suppliers from whom her department procured the implements and the (ii) cost at which it was obtained; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(a) Please refer to Annexure A
(b)(i) The farmers were not given any equipment except for the 200 x 2 500 litres water tanks.
(ii) The process of selecting beneficiaries was done in two ways. One hundred (100) beneficiaries were food security/ subsistence/ backyard farmers identified by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development through Matlala and Moletji service centres. The focus was on farmers producing at a small scale mainly for subsistence and have no access to water for their gardens. The other hundred (100) beneficiaries were indigent households who were identified by Moletji and Matlala Traditional Councils. The tanks will be used for rainwater harvesting.
(iii) Tents, podium, chairs and the sound system were hired, as well as catering for those who were in attendance.
(c)(i) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) participated in the establishment of the Rural Safety Strategy that is led by the South African Police services (SAPS) and remains an active member of the safety strategy established in line with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, under a visible policing programme which is currently implemented in terms of the Rural Safety Strategy. This is an integrated and multidisciplinary approach that aims to mobilize rural communities to create a safe, secure and crime free environment that is conducive to food security, prevention of stock theft as well as social and economic stability. Members of the SAPS stock theft unit have access to DALRRD’s animal identification system, this enables relevant SAPS members to monitor stock theft including verification of animal ownership and sale of animals at auctions.
(ii)(aa),(bb) The Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) provides for conditional grants to Provincial Departments of Agriculture (PDAs) which caters for animal fencing as part of animal production projects. Furthermore, the Department, through its collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) provides for agricultural infrastructure such as construct camps, fences etc on communal land to secure livestock in rural areas. However, this work is not exclusively the responsibility of DALRRD; there are other departments and agencies who also play a role in this area.
(d)(i) The supplier of the 200 water tanks is Manekwane Business Enterprise.
(ii) R 800 000 for 200 water tanks at R 4 000.00 each.
ANNEXURE A TO NA-QUES 2985 OF 2023
a) Expenses incurred for each event during the minister’s engagements with the villagers of Moletji and Matlala.
|
Date |
Name of event |
Purpose |
No of persons |
Expenditure |
|
|
Item |
Amount |
||||
|
11/04/2023 |
Career Guidance, Mahoai High School |
Career Guidance |
250 (Learners and Departmental Officials from DALRRD, PDARD, LEDET and Department of Education) |
Marquee, structural engineering, etc. |
R95 000 |
|
Artificial lawn, stage, sound, generator, public liability, etc. |
R219 255 |
||||
|
Catering for 250 people |
R55 000 |
||||
|
Service Fee |
R20 613.75 |
||||
|
Sub-Total |
R389 868.75 |
||||
|
11/04/2023 |
Minister’s visit to Kgoshi Matlala |
Courtesy visit and listen to concerns raised by Kgoshi Matlala |
Minister and Departmental Officials |
None |
|
|
13/04/2023 |
Minister visit to Kgoshi Moloto III |
Courtesy visit and listen to concerns raised by Kgoshi Moloto III as the area is Minister’s constituency |
Minister and Departmental Officials |
None |
|
|
14/04/2023 |
Tibane Shopping Centre Flea Market |
Minister engages farmers and facilitate conversation between farmers and centre manager/shop owners |
60 Exhibitors and Departmental Officials |
Tent, gazebos, ablution, tables, chairs, generator, etc Service fee |
R58 607 R3 271.75 |
|
Catering 100 people Service fee |
R30 385.00 R1 696.25 |
||||
|
Sound system Service fee |
R26 028.10 R1 453.03 |
||||
|
Sub-Total |
R121 441.13 |
||||
|
17/04/2023 |
Farmers Day Moletji Moshate |
Minister/departmental officials direct engagement with backyard farmers and handing over of water tanks |
550 community members, including backyard farmers |
Item |
Amount |
|
Catering 550 people Service fee |
R167 117.50 R9 329.38 |
||||
|
Sound and podium Service fee |
R152 212.99 R 8 497.33 |
||||
|
Marquee (incl. ablution, chairs, tables, stage, VIP tent, deco, generator, etc.) Service fee |
R734 256.10 R 40 990.03 |
||||
|
Media (Radio) Service fee |
R69 010.00 R3 852.50 |
||||
|
Sub-Total |
R1 185 265.83 |
||||
|
17/04/2023 |
Farmers Day Moletji Moshate |
Procurement of 200 Water Tanks |
200 water tanks |
R800 000.00 |
|
|
GRAND TOTAL |
R 2 496 575.71 |