Gamede launches food security aid campaign

WAKKERSTROOM – Food security is one of the cornerstones of the ANC’s policies for their citizens in the province.

This was showcased by MEC for agriculture,rural development,land and environment administration, Mr Andries Gamede when he launched the Food Gardens Starter Packs campaign on December 19 in the Pixley Seme Locak Municipality to 960 households to begin to fend for their families and communities.

Speaking to a packed community hall in this rural town hall, Gamede said,
“It is all about delivering what we promised you when we urged you to vote the ANC into power once again, and you did it.

Here we are delivering on those promises. If we didn’t honour what we had promised, we would have failed yoy as loyal supporters of the government of the day.”
“The ANC lives and the ANC will forever honour its mandate unto the people of South Africa, especially our rural folk.

What we are delivery now, is empowering you not to be dependent on charity, but to begin to fend for yourselves through the assistance of this department.

The food stuff you buy from the likes of Pick n Pay and shop rite, in terms of vegetables, is what you will be able to produce on your own within your own backgrounds.

“Don’t look further than your backgrounds to ensure food security and stability within your families. As I popularly always state: kusuka luthuli, kusiphuka tidzindzi, the ANC is on the way to delivery in different spheres in all the local municipalities.

It is on the very note that we decided to focus in rural areas than urban ones because we know there’s a dire need to get communities engaged in food production so as to ensure that there is food security in the country and hence, there will be stability amongst communities, he said.

Gamede further reiterated the old idiom and nature of of our society in the rural communities that menfolk flock to urban areas like Gauteng for work purposes, and womenfolk are left behind to fend for families.

“That is going to be history, as through this project, there will no longer be dependency on the state, charity and other firms if dependency that communities cities, but they will begin to produce their own food products, and subsequently will be suppliers to local supermarkets from their own backyards.

The idea is to have them utilizing the land that they have at their disposal, whether small or big.

“Menfolk in these communities should begin to work hard because the women are always in the forefront to make it work. In 2015, we will deliver even more than what we’ve given to them.

In essence, food gardens are the ultimate answer to food security, further economic development of the individual families if they take it seriously and overall stability of families,” he ended.

There was, however, pomp and jubilation from the community at. The Wakkerstroom community hall as members if communi the ty, in unison ululated, sang and danced in delight if the relief brought unto them.

“The ANC lives. The ANC gives. The ANC is here forever for your needs and will forever govern,” he ended.

The Starter Packs contained, among others, wheel barrows, spade, fork, hoe, seeds, fertilizer and other amenities pertaining to  gardening.