Market is going to bear fruit for emerging farmers

The market, that should have been completed in 2020, has been under criticism since the announcement of its creation in 2013. Allegations of corruption to the misuse of taxpayers’ money have been directed towards the market, which is under the guardianship of the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency and the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT).

But not everyone is unhappy about the market.

Nhlanhla Ngomane, a farmer support officer of the SA Farmer Development Association, said emerging farmers would benefit from the market.

“Our farmers don’t have transport and cannot get their produce to markets that are far away. Therefore we are waiting anxiously for the new market to open,” said Ngomane.

“An important element of the market is to accommodate small commercial farmers who struggle to access mainstream economic activities associated with traditional fresh produce markets. The proposed model is one that utilises agri hubs (under the management of secondary cooperatives) to which farmers will be able to supply for packaging, marking, labelling and ultimately sale and distribution,” said Francois Knowles, registrar of the Agricultural Produce Agents Council (Apac).

“This approach aims to accommodate farmers who have no or limited access to traditional markets,” he added.

Knowles said Apac is waiting in anticipation to support and assist the market with its roll-out plans. “We reserve the right to make any predictions on the success of the market.”

In the meantime, the DPWRT is adamant that the project will be completed in 2022.

The Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market is currently 48% complete with a total budget of R1 483 631 832.19, as supplied by the Mpumalanga DPWRT.

In July, these figures stood at 35% completed and only R930m was budgeted in total.  The expenditure to date is R746.5m; it stood at R629.6m in July.

According to the department, the whole project, which already missed its deadline, should be completed by July 2022. The previous projection received from the department stated that the completion date would have been April 2022.

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Bongani Dhlamini, the spokesperson for the department, said the development of the new market has been implemented in phases. Preliminary project phases implemented by the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency include the bulk earthworks, the provision of internal services and roads, the construction of an access road from the R37, and the construction of a reservoir tank and bulk waterline, which are all in various phases of completion.

“The contract for the completion of the first phase was awarded to a independent contractor in 2016 and terminated when the progress was reportedly at 99%. The professional team has undertaken an assessment of the outstanding works and the remedial works required,” Dhlamini said.

He was not able to say how much money was needed to complete phase 1.  Dhlamini shrugged off complaints from the DA that the project was in a financial crisis, saying that he was not aware of any problems.

Asked about the contractors that were complaining about not getting paid on time, Dhlamini said the DPWRT and the Department of Economic Development and Toursim strive to pay contractors within 30 days of receipt of a correct payment certificate.

“Delays happen if errors are identified during review of the payments certificates by the department’s technical team. The department is determined that the project is well managed to avoid any instances of over- or underpayment. Payment of SMMEs is administered by the main contractor. The department continuously engages the contractor to ensure he honours his obligations with the subcontractors timeously,” he said.

On the question of whether the market would be able to source enough suppliers, Dhlamini said they were only responsible for its construction and could not comment on its viability.

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