To Feed the Nation, Harmony Between All Roleplayers Are Needed, Said Mr Zokwane
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June 2014 DAFF Official newsletter of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries he new Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is Mr Senzeni Zokwana, who has been president of the TNational Union of Mineworkers since 2000. To feed the nation, harmony between all roleplayers are needed, said Mr Zokwane. That is why his leadership style will include dialogue with all stake- holders. Through dialogue he wants to bring stability within the agriculture industry so that all farmers can work together and keep South Africa moving. In 1984 Mr Zokwana became a Union Representative for Shafts and after that several regions representative. Therefore he brings a lot of experience of negotiating to the table. At the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation Congress in North West Province, the chairperson, Mr Flip le Roux said that farmers must not be scared of the new Minister. They must just continue farming and Mr Senzeni Zokwana. give him a fair chance. r Bheki Cele is the new Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Founding Member for Mthe National Education Union of South Africa. He serves as a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature and a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council led by Premier J.S. Ndebele. Cele also formerly served as MEC for Transport, Com- munity Safety and Liaison in KwaZulu-Natal. He was a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress. Mr Cele will bring political guidance to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries ministry, his spokesperson Buyo Mkhize said. He will ensure that the mandate of the department as a whole becomes one of the economic drives in the country. Mr Bheki Cele. Departmental Officials bid farewell to the Minister By Samuel Kgatla Officials from the Department of Ag- under the Minister’s riculture, Forestry and Fisheries bid leadership. He added farewell to the outgoing Minister, Ms that they went through Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Deputy many hardships but Minister, Dr Pieter Mulder. The exit with the Minister at the function was held at the ARC Head- quarters in Hatfield on 22 May. The helm they survived. He two outgoing Members of Parliament, wished the Minister well whose terms expired in May 24 2014, and promised that they have contributed immensely to the will always remember smooth running of the department. her. The Minister met the Senior Manage- The officials ex- ment Staff members to say goodbye changed pleasantries to them and thanked them for their with the Minister and assistance. her deputy. She ex- The officials decided to give these two first pressed her gratitude officials of the department a good send off towards them and the as they feel that they played a pivotal role staff members returned over the past five years. the accolades by cheer- Professor Edith Vries, Director-General of ing her. The Minister the department, urged the Minister not to thanked the depart- Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Minister of Agriculture, lose her good heart. The DG stated that she Forestry and Fishers receiving a gift from Prof Edith Vries, ment for finally having Director-General, left, of DAFF had the ability to engage with the Minister the farewell function on different roles. for her. She mentioned that government is not “On the behalf of the department, we “I enjoy having this kind of farewells be- there to condemn or judge, but to help. She wish you the best and it was a privilege cause they bring closure. I can say thank you saluted the staff for carrying her heart and working with you. I want to say sorry for the and say sorry where I have failed you. With soul over the past five years. department for not telling you all the good me, right is right and wrong is wrong. It is With her at the helm of the department stories because there is not enough time to sometimes painful working with me. When during her tenure, projects such as the read everything. We also apologise where I am not angry I laugh with you. Whatever Fetsa Tlala, Service Delivery Forum and we have failed you in some ways. You have I do with my officials I do it to protect them, others were launched and prospered. Other served the sector well as you were always even though sometimes they will not under- projects were also renamed or revitalised to fighting for food security. We shall miss stand it. I gave leadership to many of you. ensure that there is greater food security in you,” she said. We do not need to destroy each other’s the country. Agricultural unions also showed Meanwhile, Ronald Ramabulana, Chief lives or laugh at the demise of others. My unity and had one voice to communicate Executive Officer of National Agricultural intention is not to destroy people’s lives but with the Minister. The department wishes Marketing Council (NAMC) also represent- to build them. I have done my best and the both the Minister and her deputy the best ed all the entities that wished the Minister atmosphere of intolerance must not take of luck as they led with commitment and could stay another five years with them. place in the department,”she said. dedication for a period of five years. He believes that many changes happened Editor Piwe Mbiko (012) 319 6936 [email protected] DAFFnews is the newsletter of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry Reporters Thuli Dube (012) 319 7929 [email protected] and Fisheries. Private Bag X250, PRETORIA 0001. Samuel Kgatla (012) 319 7181 [email protected] It is published by the Directorate Communication Services, Private Bag Musa Khumalo (012) 319 6695 [email protected] X144, PRETORIA 0001. Innocent Mhlanga (012) 319 7827 [email protected] Rony Moremi (012) 319 6622 [email protected] Jamela Nkanyane (012) 319 6903 [email protected] Opinions expressed in DAFFnews are not necessarily those of the Mercia Smith (012) 319 6666 [email protected] editorial team. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced or Interns Hellen Phushela (012) 319 7819 [email protected] transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, Dineo Makgato (012) 319 6958 [email protected] Subeditor Lerato Mofokeng (012) 319 7927 [email protected] recording or any information storage or retrieval system without prior Distribution Pam Sutherland (012) 319 7104 [email protected] permission from the editor. Website: www.daff.gov.za 2 June 2014 DAFFnews No. 6 Departmental Results on evaluation of Veterinary Services The Department of Agriculture, For- specific interventions. industries. estry and Fisheries will publicise the The South African Veterinary Services Following issues pertaining to the FMD findings of an evaluation on the na- has over a number of years managed outbreak in the Jozini area of KwaZulu- tional Veterinary Services conducted major animal disease issues and events Natal in 2011 and avian influenza in the by the World Organization for Animal which impacted on the industry and Oudtshoorn district in the Western Cape, Health (OIE) Performance of Veteri- economy of the country. A ban on the South Africa requested the OIE to con- nary Services evaluation team. export of red meat, following an outbreak duct the PVS evaluation. This request was After studying the recommendations, of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 2011 endorsed by the Parliamentary Portfolio DAFF is convinced about the accuracy was imposed. However, after coping with Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and of the information and sees the need to the challenges, South Africa regained Fisheries, reflecting the high priority of im- inform the public of the findings of the its official FMD-free zone status on 14 proving the national Veterinary Services. evaluation. February 2014. South Africa takes into consideration The evaluation, authorised by the World The ostrich industry also suffered an the OIE PVS evaluation findings in the Organization for Animal Health, was con- outbreak of avian influenza and is facing development of a high-level veterinary ducted in October 2012 to ensure that the challenges in trying to control the disease. strategy in order to improve the Veterinary national Veterinary Services achieved their Diseases such as classical swine fever, Services. The stakeholders and members objectives and were able to comply with avian influenza, and Rift Valley fever also of the public can access the OIE Report the OIE international standards. The OIE illustrate the challenges that the South Af- on www.daff.gov.za. The department will has developed a PVS Pathway. The PVS rican Veterinary Services is experiencing. be hosting the OIE PVS mission towards Pathway is designed to assist Veterinary Endemic livestock diseases, including the end of June 2014. Services to determine the baseline of per- tick borne diseases (heartwater, redwater, Owing to the time restrictions, the team formance and identify gaps in their ability anaplasmosis, etc.), lumpy-skin disease, proposed that the Department hosts a to comply with OIE international stand- sheep scab, Newcastle disease, blue- workshop with stakeholders where two ards. The Performance Veterinary Services tongue and others, continue to have a representatives per organisation will be Pathway comprises an “Evaluation”, “Gap significant impact on farmers and livestock allowed to attend this workshop. analysis” and ongoing support for country No. 6 DAFFnews June 2014 3 Departmental Study tour of Swaziland delegates in South Africa The Department of Agriculture, For- ments to date and the further plans of want to convert. ”CA is the best way to go estry and Fisheries (DAFF) in collabo- the NCATF. The role players involved in for sustainable agricultural development ration with the FAO hosted a study tour NCATF are DAFF, FAO, ARC, organised and to sustain our livelihood, and it is eco- for Swaziland delegates on Conserva- agriculture, input suppliers, civil society nomically viable” said the farmers in con- tion Agriculture from 24 to 28 March organisations (farmers’ club and associa- clusion.