The Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU) has accused the government of acting in bad faith in its provision of Covid-19 relief.
In a statement, the TAU said minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza was misleading the public about the purpose of the support it was providing for the sector.
It said that the contention that the support was intended to maintain food production was a ‘blatant lie’. The TAU argued that the government had approved some 15 000 applications out of 55 000 received. These amounted to some R500 million. This was granted to smallholder and communal farmers – however, according to Stats SA, they accounted for only around 1.9% of food production.
TAU president Louis Meintjes remarked: ‘The minister should be honest and admit that the department is merely supporting subsistence farmers who are predominantly ANC supporters. If the goal is to ensure food production for the country, her department should assist commercial farmers – who are effectively responsible for South Africa’s food security – as well.’