by Olwetu Batyi | Mar 1, 2022 | Uncategorized
MEC brings joy to learners
By Thozi kaManyisana
Rural development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) brought smiles and jubilation to 180 disadvantaged learners in the northern parts of Sarah Baartman District Municipality.
While DRDAR MEC Nonkqubela Pieters brought the message of “love Agriculture” as her key message to the schools she has adopted, she also brought “goodies to restore dignity” of learners
The department visited the schools, including Misgund Junior Secondary School and Louterwater Primary School as well as Joubertina Junior Secondary School on Monday.
On Tuesday, the schools included Qhayiyalethu Comprehensive School, Gustav Reichel Primary School and Coldstream Junior Secondary School.
Apart from demonstration of planting seedlings and trees in their school gardens, the identified learners were handed over with school bags, school shoes and dignity packs that included sanitary towels, roll-on, toothpaste , toothbrush, washing rag and soap.
The MEC noted that some of the leaners who received the school shoes from the department were either barefoot or wearing takkies to school.
“While I am here to instill love of Agriculture and show there’s bright future in the sector, I’m happy that I brought these goodies to restore your dignity.
“You are coming from poor backgrounds but you can become prosperous as the background doesn’t determine one’s future.
“Go on and become shinning stars , dream big and make those dreams a reality,” said the MEC.
She said she was interested in seeing the learners results improve hence “it is important to work seriously.”
“We want all schools to start have food gardens so that the learners can start seeing the value of agriculture from a young age,” she added.
Doris Luzwati, from MEC’s constituency office urged parents to “take a key role in children’s education so that teachers can easily deal with kids.”
A twelve-year-old Johander Kleinbooi of Qhayiyalethu Comprehensive School was wearing takkies to the school said he was “very thankful to the department.”
“I’m very happy because I will be able to walk around the with my head up and not feel different because I don’t have schools,” he said.
In all the schools, the gesture of starting food gardens and the donation of seedlings was warmly welcomed.
Gustav Reichel Primary School principal Coeleen van Zyl said they “appreciate the assistance from the bottom of our hearts.”
The MEC identified 12 schools that will be assisted by department as part of the MEC’s adopt a School Programme that was pronounced by the Cabinet.
by Olwetu Batyi | Dec 21, 2021 | Uncategorized
Pieters calls for responsible festive season celebrations
By Sanele James
A total of 100 households in Somerset East under the Blue Crane Route Local Municipality are looking forward to this year’s festive season celebrations.
This is after MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonkqubela Pieters took surprise early Xmas party for the elderly and children to the small town of the Karoo.
Pieters distributed food parcels and educational toys to the needy locals with majority of the beneficiaries being women.
Thirty of the beneficiaries came from Cookhouse, 15 from Pearston and 55 from the hosting Somerset East.
Dressed in Santa Clause attire, Pieters also handed out 100 toys among 50 boys and 50 girls.
Pieters took the opportunity to denounce acts of abuse against women and children and further lectured locals about the novel Corona Virus.
“This time of the year is characterised by exchanging of gifts and love. We are also here to do the same –celebrate and be merry with you. But as we celebrate the festive season, let’s do it responsible and fight the scourge of gender-based violence and the abuse of children.
“As we celebrate, let’s be protective of the vulnerable and elderly. Let’s not only protect each other against abuse but also against the Corona Virus,” she pleaded with the beneficiaries.
The Xmas party took place at the Somerset Youth Centre under strict Covid-19 protocols.
Among the beneficiaries was Eunice Clarkson. The 68-year-old used to work as a cleaner at a local shop but she unfortunately lost her job early this year when her employer closed shop after it couldn’t recover from the Covid-19 level 1 restrictions.
“I am here with my granddaughter who has also received a doll as her Christmas gift. She has always wanted one but I couldn’t get her the toy because we channelled the little we had towards other family needs,” she said.
The list of the beneficiaries was compiled by the municipality through its database of indigent residents.
Among those who attended the event was Mayor for Blue Crane Route Local Municipality, Bonisile Manxoweni.
by Olwetu Batyi | Nov 16, 2021 | Uncategorized
Magwa to be Sustainable in 2024 – MEC
By Thozi kaManyisana
MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Nonkqubela Pieters proclaimed that by the year 2024
Magwa Tea Enterprise (MET) will reach break even point and reduce its over-reliance on government
support.
Addressing journalists after she led harvesting of 1443 hectares of tea and touring Magwa processing
factory, MEC said government was “making inroads” in the MET turnaround process.
“Government is not throwing away money by investing here, we have created employment opportunities
in an economically depressed region. Through this development, Magwa has created sustainable
livelihoods, supporting multitudes of families. Indeed we are making inroads though we are not yet where
we want it to be. By 2024, the enterprise will break-even, and it will be sustainable,” she said.
The main objective of the turnaround is repositioning the Magwa-Majola Development Corridor within
Lusikisiki and Port St Johns area as a thriving sub-local economic hub in the Wild Coast Region.
We are currently engaging prospective investors and I’m confident that the enterprise will be able to
make profit when there is private sector capital injected on tea production, tourism and high-value
commodities. The eco-tourism enterprise will also be the mainstay to unlock the tourism potential of the
region.
The company has diversified its products and markets, and this product and market diversification, has
positioned Magwa brand in the same platform as its competitors and introducing Magwa Rooibos
stimulated product demand within local markets. Magwa and Majola Tea in Black and Rooibos is available
in more than 50 retail stores in the province and KZN.
Over and above this diversification, conglomerates such as Unilever, Joekels and National Brands buy tea
in bulk from Magwa and Majola. Eastern Cape government approved the procurement of locally
produced tea so that government departments municipalities and public entities buy it. The procurement
of locally produced tea products is critical in improving Magwa profit margins, reduce over-reliance on
provincial fiscus and stabilising the socio-economic outlook of the Ingquza Hill and Port St. Johns local
municipalities (these two local municipalities are ranked among the poorest in South Africa).
To this end the MET has created employment opportunities totalling 957 employees (481 permanent and
476 seasonal workers, predominantly women and young people).
General Manager of MET, Mr Chuma Velani announced that the Majola Tea Estate has been awarded an
organic tea certificate by ECOCERT (an international certification body), which will open doors for niche
and export markets for Majola Tea.
In line with the strategic direction of achieving the highest level of sustainability, MET has achieved the
pinnacle of environmental sustainability by reaching ‘Sustainable Agriculture’ status certified for product
and farms, he added.
“Being one of the leaders in the tea market over the years, Magwa has embarked on an aggressive path
in its marketing approach to ensure an advantage over its competitors as a single origin product,” he said.
He said by 2024 in the tea production and processing they expected to employ about 2500 employees
while other value crops and tourism planned for the MET might take the employment numbers to 5000.
One of the longest serving employees in Magwa, Nontshumayelo Vonqongo, who started in 1989 as a
casual worker and is now a permanent Section Manager hailed the estate as a “great job creator in this
region.”
“Working here has changed our lives. It has made me a better person as I have built a house for my family,
out of the money I earn from Magwa”, she said.
Workers representative from Majola Tea Estate, Nofikile Tungani, said “We thank government for
assisting us, we would not be here if it was not for government support”.
In thanking the good working relationship between management and staff, MEC Pieters said the
Enterprise is the “pride of the province and government will assist it until it is sustainable.
“These Estates will never fail but will continue to prosper” she concluded.
The MEC’s visit, which included tea tasting ended up with her viewing the famous Magwa Falls.
by Olwetu Batyi | Oct 27, 2021 | Uncategorized
Farmers should not abuse assets provided by government
By Thozi kaManyisana
The farmers should “stop abusing” the assets they are given by government for their progress and growth, said Rowan Kapank from Boplaas farm in Louterwaters.
Kapank was speaking during the official handover of two tractors and its implements to benefit 18 farms in the Koukamma Local Municipality by the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) MEC Nonkqubela Pieters.
Pieters also handed over 600 bags of fertilizers to Kapank who is hailed as “one of the best producers of potatoes” by Potato SA as well as Xenephon Grootboom who produces various vegetables
“As farmers , we must look after the assets we receive from government because they are meant to take us forward. There’s a tendency among people to abuse government sponsored assets because they did not pay for them.
I really appreciate this intervention because it gives us strength to progress and produce more,” said Kapank .
Potato SA mentor Terence Brown told the MEC that he has “evidence that Kapank was one the top 10″ producers in the country and he has an agreement to produce potatoes in 10ha of land with their support.
Chairperson of Koukamma Farmer Production Unit, which is managing mechanization brought by government Johnny Kettledas said the tractors “are a boost on what we are trying to achieve.
“We promise to work hand in glove as farmers and we are pleased that you are always assisting us,” he added.
The MEC visited the JD Rovon a deciduous fruit farm as well as Kapank and State farms that produce vegetables
She said the aim of government is to change people’s lives and ensure that farmers actively participate in the mainstream economy “
“As government we are assisting farmers and let us work together to make better livelihoods, this realised through partnerships and your commitment as you work the land
“When I come back here, I want to hear that, there are more farmers who have graduated from emerging to commercial level . I am glad government has been able to assist you to produce what I see here,” she said.
by Olwetu Batyi | Oct 26, 2021 | Uncategorized
MEC gives farmers a steppingstone
By Thozi kaManyisana
Eastern Cape MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonkqubela Pieters recently crisscrossed the Blue Crane Municipality to hand over tractors, production implements, bulls and production inputs to farmers in the area.
Pieters started off in the Klipfontein where she handed over two tractors with a trailer, lurcene bales, rakes as well as seeds and fertilizer that will be shared by four different farms, namely Sonder Farm, Lenethal Farm, Nuweruf Farm and Elensdrif Farm.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Phakamile Vellem of Elensdrif Farm thanked the department for the support.
“We are very happy as we receive these tools that will assist us to produce more feed (lurcene).
Your visit to us is very significant so that you can see for yourself what we are doing.
Our aim is to move forward and become commercial hence the assistance will be very helpful in our bid, ”said Vellem.
He further told the MEC how helpful the department’s extension officials have been to them.
Pieters said she was happy to see that farms leased from the government were being utilized, saying there was a tendency of acquiring state farms only to convert them to party destinations instead of their initial purpose.
“ We are here to handover these tools to in order to enable you to do more and realise your fullest potential.
Government isn’t a business entity but ours is to level the playing fields so you can also compete fairly with other businesses,” she said.
From Klipfontein Pieters then moved to Constant Commonage in Somerset East to hand over two Bonsmara bulls to the seven-member commonage.
“We are very excited as these farmers because we will now produce quality cattle that give us good profits from the market,” said the chairperson, Siphetho Mfabana.
Pieters said the bulls were part of the department’s Livestock Improvement Scheme meant to change the quality of the farmers’ livestock and emerging farmers stood to benefit the most from the program
