Organised agriculture welcomed the appointment of former Northern Cape MEC for agriculture and land reform, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, as minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
“I knew her well when I was president of Agri Northern Cape,” said Agri SA president Johannes Möller. “Good things happened in her time as MEC. She’s an activist who understands government policy and its mandate. She also understands commercial farmers and their challenges. She had good control over her department and she made an effort the get to know the stakeholders in organised agriculture in the province.”
TAU SA general manager Bennie van Zyl said although he doesn’t know Joemat-Pettersson personally, the union’s members who have dealt with her report she’s focused on agricultural and economic matters.
Van Zyl also welcomed the appointment of Freedom Front Plus leader Dr Pieter Mulder as her deputy. “Dr Mulder is a good administrator,” he said. “We’re pleased we can now communicate in Afrikaans with the minister and her deputy.”
Möller said although Dr Mulder doesn’t have experience in agriculture, he expects the pair to be a good team because of Dr Mulder’s experience in politics and parliamentary processes, which Joemat-Pettersson might lack.
National African Farmers Union (Nafu) president Motsepe Matlala said they’re also pleased with the appointment of Dr Mulder. “He’s a South African.”
Agricultural business chamber CEO Dr John Purchase said he was looking forward to a good working relationship with Joemat-Pettersson and Dr Mulder.
Commenting on the new structure of the department, Möller said grouping forestry and agriculture made sense. Van Zyl agreed that “both use agricultural land and struggle with polluted water.”
Van Zyl hoped the ministry’s focus would be on food security and that it wouldn’t be dominated by the new department of rural development and land reform. – Drieka Burger