9
December 2013
Pandor says that from 1923 it was compulsory for all (black and white)
South Africans to register births, but only in the cities. It was voluntary in
the rural areas and that is where the majority of black people lived. “Thus
most births of Africans went unregistered under apartheid.”
The first step is the Department of Home Affairs’ campaign to register the
birth of every citizen and to put their birth information into the National
Population Register (NPR). “One objective of this campaign is to reach
those citizens whose births were unregistered and those with birth
certificates who has never applied for an ID,” she said.
As part of the campaign strategy, more than 250 stakeholder forums
were launched covering the majority of district municipalities and metros
throughout South Africa.
She says that the campaign has achieved some success, but that they
still need the support of organisations such as Agri SA. “In the 2012/2013
financial year, Home Affairs registered 602 530 births within 30 days of
delivery. This was made possible by the steady expansion of our national
footprint that reaches into the most rural and far flung areas through the
use of 389 provincial and district offices and 117 mobile offices.”
After Pandor’s address, a memorandum of cooperation was signed
between Agri SA and the Department of Home Affairs regarding the
registration of births in the country. “Agri SA has undertaken to support
the Department in developing and maintaining the integrity of the
NPR. From today on we will rely on our provincial structures and local
associations to support us to make sure that every birth is registered in
the rural areas,” Mr Johannes Möller (president: Agri SA) said.
President’s address
During his president’s address, Möller said that the labour unrest in the
Western Cape at the end of 2012 forced producers to make choices they
would have preferred to avoid; for example: “How much labour do I really
need and how can I reduce my risks in the event of strikes? Mechanisation,
alternative farming systems and resultant job cuts are inevitable.”
On the other hand there were also positive outcomes from this dark
event. “The need was identified for improved service delivery by various
government agencies to rural communities. Higher wages and further
mechanisation will require better skilled farm workers. More money
will have to be invested in training, but this will ultimately lead to better
quality career opportunities,” Möller said.
According to Möller, recognition is now also given to the fact that
agriculture needs support to fulfil its required employment function.
“This opens the door for proposals from the industry and a commitment
from government to consider such input with the necessary urgency.”
Three panel discussions took place during the two-day congress where
social challenges, access to natural resources and a competitive and
profitable agricultural sector were discussed. Experts from various
quarters were co-opted for these panel discussions. A comprehensive
report in this regard will soon be issued to affiliations of Agri SA and
will serve to support future activities of authority structures and policy
committees of Agri SA.
Second deputy president for Agri SA
Mr Phenias Gumede, a producer from the Jozini area, was elected as
the second deputy president of Agri SA. An amended constitution of
Agri SA provides for the election of a second deputy president. The
purpose of this is to elect an incumbent for Agri SA from previously
disadvantaged groups.
Dr Theo de Jager and Johannes Möller were respectively re-elected,
unopposed, as deputy president and president of Agri SA.
Naledi Pandor (minister of Home Affairs)
with from left, Dr Theo de Jager (deputy
president of Agri SA), Johannes Möller
(president of Agri SA) and Hans van der
Merwe (executive director: Agri SA).
Grain SA’s delegates who attended this
year’s Agri SA congress are from left at
the back: Jan Grey, Jaco Minnaar, Louis
Claassen, Anton Botha and Cobus van
Coller – all Grain SA members of the Ex-
ecutive. In front: Kallie Schoeman (Grain
SA member of the Executive), Louw
Steytler (chairman: Grain SA), Dissie
Kruger (Grain SA member of the Execu-
tive), Victor Mongoato (vice-chairman:
Grain SA), Jannie de Villiers (CEO: Grain
SA) and Neels Ferreira (former chairman
of Grain SA). Andries Theron (vice-chair-
man: Grain SA) was not present for the
photograph, but did join the congress at
a later stage.
Phenias Gumede was
elected as the second
deputy president of
Agri SA at this year’s
congress.
