Lekwa responds to DA allegations

Mr Bosman Grobler, Member of the Provincial Legislature and DA spokesman on Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs said the plight of Lekwa farmers must be first on the agenda of the MEC’s new agricultural board.

The MEC for Agriculture, Mr Vusi Shongwe, announced recently that he will launch and chair the Gert Sibande District Agricultural Board which seeks to address issues including land rights violation, reduction of grazing rights and the refusal of burials.

The DA said they hope that Mr Shongwe will also use this board to address the concerns of the beneficiaries of the Broiler Farm Project on Portion 32 Farm 466 in Morgenzon that has allegedly been hijacked by the Lekwa Municipality.

The DA wrote a letter to him last year asking him to intervene as the beneficiaries were alleging that Lekwa had turned their upliftment project into a tool to siphon money from government and its intended beneficiaries.

According to the beneficiaries, the municipality had even begun replacing original beneficiaries with members of the youth despite an objection by the Department of Agriculture and without following due process.

According to the party, the cries of the community cannot be ignored until a full investigation in the project has taken place despite Mr Shongwe insisting that no corruption on the side of the municipality had taken place during last year’s “Taking Legislature to the People”-programme held in Lekwa.

According to Mr Shongwe, the board will comprise of himself, commercial farmers, smallholder farmers, farm workers and local municipalities.

The DA also stated that they hope the board adheres to its mandate and ultimately uplifts the lives of farming communities in the Gert Sibande District and will monitor the formation and functioning of this board to ensure that it doesn’t become yet another vehicle that promises great fortune and then fails to deliver.

They said they will also be asking questions on the funding of this board, and if Mr Shongwe is receiving any additional remuneration in this position.

Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, communications manager of the Lekwa Municipality, responded by saying that the allegations are not true and misleading.

Ms Mtshiselwa supplied the following information;

• Lekwa municipal council had identified the construction of the chicken broiler project in Morgenzon with the intention to stimulate economic activities within the area of Morgenzon /Sivukile.

• The project was initiated after a farm was donated to the municipality for community usage.

• Altogether 20 community members were elected to initiate a poultry project that would in turn generate revenue to fund other community projects, thus this project would be a vehicle to drive other projects.

• The municipality requested the Department of Agriculture to provide technical support that will be needed including the assistance with training of beneficiaries on various agricultural skills and the completion of other broiler houses.

• The project was registered as Ubuhle Siyazenzela Cooperative which means all decisions are taken in line with the principles that govern a cooperative.

• At no stage did the municipality replace beneficiaries, if beneficiaries were changed that was done by the cooperative.

• The municipality did not hijack the project.

• The municipality did not use the project to get money intended for the project.

• The municipality is working hand in hand with the Department of Agriculture, there are project beneficiaries and other related government departments to ensure that the project runs smoothly to achieve its intended business objectives.

• The municipality confirms that all the money generated from the project is paid into the account of Ubuhle Siyazenzela Cooperative and all monies can be accounted for by the executive committee of the cooperative.