NAMA PHEPA AWARD CEREMONY
SPEECH BY MEC NANDI MAYATHULA-KHOZA
31 MAY 2013
Programme Director,
Senior Manager Present
Farmers and Abattoir Owners Represented,
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Evening, Dumelang, Sanibonani, Gooi Aand,
I am delighted to stand before you this evening as we celebrate a decade of the Nama Phepa Award Ceremony. An important feat for our Department and Province, as we continue to celebrate both excellence and service provided to our communities.
Programme Director, I am further delighted that we celebrate these awards in May, aptly known as worker’s month. As it is during this month that our nation commemorates and celebrates the workers of our country. Ladies and gentlemen, we celebrate our workers in recognition of the critical role the union federations, its members and workers in general, played in bringing about our freedom and liberation. It was through the collaborative effort of our workers who downed tools, took to the street demanding an end to Apartheid which resulted in that evil system crumbling to its knees.
And so, today as we enjoy the hard fought freedom, we must always be mindful of worker’s rights and ensure these are upheld within our various institutions, businesses and farms. As it is through brave actions of those men and women, who despite their own wellbeing and safety, fought to ensure liberation for us all, and today, as South Africans from all walks of life, we can gather to celebrate excellence in service for all South Africans.
We, therefore, must never forget the pivotal role our workers and unions have played towards the freedom we all enjoy today, and as such, we must collectively stand up against the abuse of workers in our respective industries.
Programme Director, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me at this juncture to remind us all how the Nama Phepa Awards begun. In 2003, Gauteng initiated the awards as a mechanism to recognise excellence in hygiene, quality and animal welfare practices within our abattoirs.
And I am pleased to announce that the initiative has improved the compliance at Gauteng abattoirs, given that in 2003 only 37% of abattoirs were grated, and in 2012 had improved to 71%. As a result of our initiative and subsequent success in Gauteng, the scheme is being rolled out in 3 other Provinces with the implementing scheme developed by Gauteng, with plans to roll out national under way. This, ladies and gentlemen, should indeed make us all proud, as Gauteng Provincial Government and Gauteng Businesses, that our fellow citizens recognise the good work we are jointly doing in this regard.
Programme Director, I think it is equally important to indicate that while we are here primarily, to recognise and celebrate excellence in hygiene quality assurance, we should also be mindful of the critical role you all play in another Government priority, that of rural development.
It is important that we remain cognisant of the impact your operations and especially your sourcing strategy on the livestock sector has, on the whole and especially within the emerging sector in particular.
Further, through your operations and compliance with set hygiene standards, job security for your employees is guaranteed, thus creating sustainable employment for our people. And for that, you should be commended.
Ladies and Gentlemen, while we are here to celebrate those of us who are compliant, we must also indicate that not all our abattoirs are. As such, the department conducted a survey 2012/13 and those findings have revealed the following.
It was apparent from the data that there is very little illegal slaughtering of cattle, sheep and pigs taking place, but the slaughtering of poultry under very poor hygienic conditions is common.
· In Ga-Rankuwa about 5 000 chickens a week are slaughtered at 8 different sites over 4 to 5 days a week under very poor sanitary conditions.
· In Alexandra about 3 160 chickens are slaughtered weekly, also spread over 4 to 5 days a week. Sanitary conditions are poor.
· In Ekurhuleni investigations were limited to the southern regions around Natalspruit, Kathlehong, Thokoza, Zonke Zizwe, etc. and here about 1150 chickens are slaughtered on a weekly basis.
In these few areas alone, about 9,300 chickens are slaughtered weekly.
However and interestingly, the survey found that virtually all respondents to the questionnaire understood the seriousness of these illegal slaughtering and thus requested government to build them facilities where they could slaughter their chickens in clean hygienic space. Further, most were willing to share communal slaughtering facilities, which is good news indeed.
And I am pleased to indicate that during this year the possibility of building slaughter facilities for the communities involved will be further investigated regarding:
a. availability of land,
b. structures to be erected,
c. costing of the possibilities,
d. sustainability of the project, and
e. abattoir waste
f. inter-governmental involvement in the project.
Program Director, another key to why this initiative is so important, is the right of the consumer to have trust, knowing the levels of hygiene and welfare practices within our abattoirs are of a high standard.
I wish to therefore express my appreciation to all the abattoir owners who see the importance of this initiative, not only for their business, but equally important, for the confidence it instils in the millions of ordinary people who daily purchase meat with the faith and trust that the abattoirs in which their meat is slaughtered in are of the highest quality.
And I think it would be amiss of me to not say something about the recent outcry in the press regarding the horse meat and mislabeling scandal. I therefore wish to put the matter into the right prospective, noting the following:
South Africa as a global player in the international trade is involved in the export and import of various foods of animal origin from various countries including the EU.
· In RSA the importation of animal products is very stringent;
· RSA currently allows the importation of recognisable cuts of beef from Germany, Ireland, UK, Spain, Switzerland and Veal meat from the Netherland;
· South Africa has legally imported Horse meat from Brazil and Belgium and the consignments were released by the Veterinary Authorities at the ports of entry as Horse meat.
· For the period January- December 2012, 150 tons of Horse meat was legally imported into the country.
· Kangaroo meat and water buffalo meat are also imported legally. It is important to note that it not a food safety risk to eat these meat and it is legal to use it in products as long as it is clearly labelled as such so that consumers could make an informed choice whether they want to buy the product or not.
· Legal situation regarding horse meat.
· It must be noted that it is neither unsafe nor illegal to consume or sell horse meat in terms of South African Legislation;
· There are 3 privately owned abattoirs approved for slaughter of horses (2 in Gauteng and 1 in the Free State).
· These abattoirs are regulated under the Meat Safety Act, 2000( Act No.40 of 2000);
· Meat is inspected and passed by qualified meat inspectors.
· Gauteng situation:
· We have provided information to DAFF in terms of the supply of horse meat by Gauteng abattoirs.
· Middelvlei abattoir supply to the following customers: Big Save, Allison, Berwoza, Blindspot and Boel.
· Vereeniging abattoir has not slaughtered horses for a while.
Director, as we recall, during the 2013 State of the Nation address, President Jacob Zuma stated that our country still continues to face the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment. As such, the President urged all sectors to work with Government in creating jobs for the millions of unemployed South Africans.
And it is therefore concerning that to-date Black ownership of abattoirs is still very low and is currently 21.1 % of the total number of abattoirs.
And Program Director, the question then begs, how do we attract and sustain Black abattoir owners in an industry that in all honesty, still remains predominately white. That, should be our collective challenge, ladies and gentlemen and see how we as government and abattoir owners, bring previously disadvantaged people into our industry.
And with that, I am truly delighted to announce today that one (1) black owned poultry abattoir in Attridgeville is in the process of being registered.
In closing, I would also like to thank and commend the officials of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture (GDARD), Veterinary Services, for their sterling work. Over the past financial year, thousands of abattoir and food related inspections were conducted throughout the Province by these officials.
It is public servants like them who make us all proud, as they demonstrate commitment and dedication to serving the public of our Province. Through you, the Batho Pele Practices come alive, so thank you and continue the good work.
In closing, program Director, let me say to all abattoirs owners present here tonight, thank you for your meaningful contribution towards job creation, inclusive economic growth and food security. May we together also address the challenge of bringing Black abattoir owners into the fold, so more jobs are created.
To the winners, may these awards spur you on to higher heights of excellence in the service of our people.
I thank you.
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