NAFU-SA welcomes Tina

Souh Africa’s newly-elected president, Jacob Zuma, has appointed former Northern Cape Agriculture MEC, Tina Joemat-Pettersson as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. After a very successful term as MEC, the minister is no newcomer to the agricultural scenario.

Every year a leading South African agricultural magazine conducts an annual informal survey to determine how efficient the agricultural MECs are at handling their respective provinces. Joemat-Pettersson was the top-rated MEC for 2006, with a score of eight out of ten. Prominent farmers, agriculturalists and other industry role-players agree that this remarkable woman is highly regarded in the agricultural sector.

There is great appreciation for her understanding of agriculture, her effective communication skills, her hands-on approach when dealing with problems and the fact that she is always available. Her understanding of the sector started when she was appointed MEC of Education in 1994. She worked with commercial farmers in those days.

She believes that, like land, education is a very sensitive issue and that the only way to get everybody’s trust and support, is by getting all sectors involved. This outstanding woman was born in Kimberley, the second youngest of six children. She attended the University of the Western Cape and in 1991 obtained an honours degree in English. In 1994 she was appointed as MEC for Education and ten years later, in April 2004, was re-appointed as MEC for Agriculture and Land Reform.

Joemat-Pettersson was elected as ANC Provincial Treasurer and the Chairperson of the ANC Women’s League in the Northern Cape. She also served as a member of the ANC Northern Cape Provincial Working Committee. She is truly aware of the important role that the commercial farming sector plays in South Africa. She explains that if commercial farms collapse, revenue will be lost and many people will lose their jobs. These people will end up in informal settlements.

Agriculture and food have become major issues on the global agenda, with food security and sustainability dominating debates worldwide. South Africa, a former net exporter of food, has now become an importer. The question of food security in Africa will therefore be one of the daunting challenges facing our new Minister of Agriculture from the word go. It is clear that our newlyappointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has a passion for what she does. For Joemat- Pettersson, failure is not an option. The newly-formed Ministry of Rural Development and Land Reform is headed by Gugile Nkwinti, the former MEC for Agriculture in the Eastern Cape.

The leadership of the different sector organisations agree that he is the right man for this very challenging portfolio. “Nkwinti is a man of high moral values and integrity with a lot of passion for rural development, and a good listener,” the National Emergant Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (Nerpo) said in a statement, adding that he was “very suitable” for the portfolio.

Agri SA congratulated Nkwinti on his appointment. The organisation acknowledges the fact that he will have the difficult task of giving effect to a very complex mandate.

There are many challenges facing agriculture and rural development, some of which fall partially or even entirely outside the responsibility of the Agriculture Ministry. The Agricultural Business Chamber said: “Given concerns around South Africa’s own food security, and also South Africa’s critical position in providing food security on a regional basis in Africa, the challenges facing the ministers are daunting. But with good planning, good co-operation between the private and public sector, and with good execution from all concerned, the sector as a whole can deliver on the expectations of society.”

The Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU) expressed its hope that the new team would manage the agricultural sector in a rational manner. NAFU welcomes the division of the Agriculture and Land Affairs Ministry into two separate entities. Agriculture can now focus on its core function, namely competitive and sustainable food and fibre production. The sector has an already agreed upon basis for dialogue and co-operation between role-players and the Government in terms of the Strategic Plan for South African Agriculture.