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THE
GRAIN AND OILSEED INDUSTRY
OF SOUTH AFRICA – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
ႃႄ
This seemed to be unacceptable to SAMSO, as the latter then tried to provide the
representatives from the co-operatives with a vote at Congress as well. This was
now unacceptable to SAMPI, because SAMPI’s view from the beginning was that
only the maize producers should decide about maize affairs.
Once again these differences led to serious disputes between SAMPI and SAMSO,
as SAMPI maintained that according to the agreement between the parties only
producers could have a vote at the Congress. SAMSO persisted in its refusal to
accept and admit that this had been the terms of the agreement. In the end SAMSO
decided unilaterally to suspend all further talks with SAMPI.
SAMPI objected strenuously and made several attempts to save the process.
These did not succeed, and SAMPI appealed to Minister Schoeman on two
occasions to resolve the matter. However, he was not prepared to become involved
again. The unpleasant disagreement between the two organisations therefore
continued, even by way of court cases against each other.
Levy for the SAAU
In the meantime, SAMPI made inputs on the recommendations of the commission
of enquiry into the Marketing Act of 1977. SAMPI also submitted recommendations
on various matters involving the composition and functions of the Maize Board
and financing of the SAAU, but to no avail. Among other things, SAMPI convened
a meeting with Minister Schoeman on the introduction of a levy to finance the
SAAU. The Minister promised that such a levy would not be introduced before
unity had been achieved in the maize industry.
In spite of this, the Marketing Amendment Act of 1977, which was subsequently
promulgated, did make provision for introducing a levy on agricultural products,
from which funds could be paid over to the SAAU at the direction of the Minister
of Agriculture. A levy of five cents/ton was accordingly introduced for maize,
which meant that any person who produced maize had to pay the levy, regardless
of whether they were a member of organised agriculture.
To SAMPI it meant that its members were obliged to contribute to the funding of the
SAAU, and therefore also to that of SAMSO. Naturally this led to enormous dissatis-
faction among SAMPI members, as they were statutorily obliged to contribute to the
funding of an organisation with which they were engaged in a fierce battle.
Because of this, SAMPI convened meetings with various members of the national
assembly to communicate SAMPI’s protest to them clearly. The meetings were
attended by many producers and the message of dissatisfaction was conveyed
unambiguously. SAMPI launched several attacks on the levy, but with no success.
This cartoon from
Die Landman
(March
1979) plays on SAMPI winning the 1977
election – leading nowhere, because
SAMSO still wanted to be in charge.
SAMPI was even willing to have another
election on the same conditions.