Speech by MEC Tina Joemat-Pettersson at the occasion of the launch of the Sonvrucht Farming (PTY) Ltd

17 June 2005

Honourable Mayor Ann Brooks,
Councillors of Kai! Garib Municipality,
The Chief Executive of Officer of Khula Mr. Xola Sithole and Colleagues,
Representatives of National Government in the Department of Land Affairs,
Provincial Government Representatives,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This occasion embodies the call of ordinary people of our country when they met at the Congress of the People to adopt the Freedom Charter on the 26 of June 1955 at Kliptown.

11 years into our democracy, we are realising the Charter’s declaration of an equal South Africa that belongs to all who live in it, Black and White.

We’ve gathered today to yet again witness the vestiges of a State that is based on the will of all our people.

On Sunday 19 June 2005, the whole country shall be celebrating the strides that we have made against the enactment of the Natives Land Act of 1913 that prohibited Blacks from owning land.

Today, we are looking back and saying never again shall we experience forceful removals and the loss of the agricultural heritage of the natives of this land.

This moment is the realisation of a dream and battle call for The People to Share In the Wealth of the Country; for The Land To Be Shared Among Those Who Work It and for there to be Work And Security.

It is indeed time for us to declare that Sonvrucht Farming enterprise has restored the robbed heritage of our people who are now co-owners of an enterprise that is worth R14 million.

The Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) programme of the Department of Land Affairs is indeed highly functional, it is working for our people. Some banks are indeed starting to work for our people by providing financing.

All of this is now happening in a South Africa that belongs to all who live in it.

The Sonvrucht Farming enterprise is a living example of all our affirmations as South Africans, that we are truly a democratic nation.

This project says the realisation of the ideal of a South Africa that is free from poverty and underdevelopment is within grasp.

Distinguished Guests,

Among the many challenges that face South Africa’s democratic state is the quest of expanding and growing the productivity of our country.

We have accepted the need to create strategic partnerships between the state and private sector. Hence our partnership between this entity, Department of Land Affairs and Khula.

In his State of the Nation Address this year, President Thabo Mbeki pointed out that:

"Our programme is premised on the broad objectives to increase investment in the economy,

"lower the cost of doing business”,

"improve economic inclusion and provide the skills required by the economy”.

The expansion of the exporting market through broad-based Black Economic Empowerment as reflected in this project is indeed truly heartening. This project is a remedy to the inequities within the table grape industry of the Northern Cape.

The story of South Africa is that of several thousands of ordinary South Africans like Dr. Tokka Van Den Hever and partners, beneficiaries such as Mr. Hendrik Mokgoro, civil servants in the Department of Land Affairs and Khula officials working together in expanding the ownership boundaries of agriculture and its related facets.

We need to thank them for assisting yesterday’s peasants into becoming today’s owners of business. South Africa and the international community are closely looking at your footsteps.

In conclusion programme director,

I would like to thank all the involved parties for laying the foundation of our aspirations in the second decade of freedom.

We thank you for giving dignity to the 42 beneficiaries. We urge you to do more in nurturing a vision of a South Africa that would be a better place for its people.

Let us step up our efforts in making poverty history by expanding on equity within this sector.

I thank you.