Agri SA verwelkom die standpunte wat die Landbou- en Grondsake Portefeuljekomitee gister oor die konsep Agri Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtiging (Agri SEB/Agri BEE) dokument ingeneem het, sê Mnr Japie Grobler, president van Agri SA.

Grobler het gesê dat hy dit veral eens is met die komitee dat die proses met die skryf en vrystelling van die dokument onbevredigend was, en dat die mikpunte in die dokument asook spesifiek die haalbaarheid daarvan aan n konsultatiewe proses onderwerp sal moet word.

"Laasgenoemde was tot hiertoe grootliks afwesig daarom plaas ons, soos die portefeuljekomitee, ook n vraagteken oor die haalbaarheid daarvan om die proses teen November vanjaar te finaliseer".

Agri SA het na die vrystelling van die konsep Agri SEB-dokument weereens aan President Mbeki en minister Didiza ons ondersteuning vir die SEB-inisiatief bevestig, het Grobler gesê. "Ons het ook gemaan tot realisme, oorleg en konsultasie soos beliggaam word in die Stategiese Plan vir die Landbou van die President. "Die strategiese plan het duidelike standpunte oor SEB in die landbou neergelê en daar is ook reeds betekenisvolle vordering met SEB in die landbou gemaak".

Agri SA doen n beroep op landbou-organisasies om nie vanweë die onsekerheid wat die konsep Agri SEB-dokument skep negatiewe besluite te neem en goeie aksies wat in proses is te stop nie, maar daarmee voort te gaan.

"Ons sal namate groter duidelikheid oor die inhoud van die SEB-dokument verskaf word meer spesifiek daarop reageer", het Grobler gesê.

Volgens Grobler sal lid-organisasies van die Agri SA-groep voortgaan om n gekoördineerde standpunt oor swart ekonomiese bemagtiging in die landbou op te stel, gebaseer op dit waaroor daar reeds in die Strategiese Plan vir die Landbou ooreengekom is. Vordering in die verband sal tydens Agri SA se kongres in Oktober gerapporteer en geëvalueer word. By die geleentheid sal spesiale aandag gegee word aan die onderskeie verantwoordelikhede van alle belanghebbendes ten opsigte van Agri SEB.

Agri SA sal ook deelneem aan owerheidsprosesse wat kan bydra tot beter onderlinge begrip en samewerking en wat wedersyds aanvaarbare Agri SEB-mikpunte en -programme tot gevolg sal hê. "Ons het reeds persone genomineer wat vir hierdie doel in n tersaaklike werkgroep van die minister kan dien", het Grobler gesê.

Navrae:
Mnr Japie Grobler; Agri SA President 082 825 8018
Mnr Lourie Bosman, Agri SA Adjunk-president 082 388 3000 of 017-819 1295
Mnr Hans van der Merwe, Agri SA Uitvoerende Direkteur 082 388 0001 of 012-322 6980

Tuis

Agri SA welcomes the viewpoint adopted yesterday by the Agriculture and Land Affairs Portfolio Committee on the draft Agri Black Economic Empowerment (Agri BEE) document, said Agri SA President Japie Grobler.

Grobler said he agrees with the committee, especially that the process of drafting and releasing of the document had been unsatisfactory and specifically that the viabilityof the document should be subject to a consultative process.

"The latter has been largely lacking to date and for this reason we, like the portfolio committee, also question the viability of finalising the process by November this year".

After the draft Agri BEE document was released, Agri SA again confirmed to President Mbeki and Minister Didiza its support for the BEE initiative, said Grobler. "We also stressed the importance of realism and consultation as embodied in the President's Strategic Plan for Agriculture. The strategic plan includes clear viewpoints on BEE in agriculture, and there has already been significant progress with BEE in agriculture."

Agri SA called on agricultural organisations not to adopt negative decisions and halt the process because of the uncertainty around the draft BEE document, but to continue with these activities."

Once there is greater clarity as to the content of the BEE document, Agri SA will respond more specifically, said Grobler.

According to Grobler, member organisations of the Agri SA group will continue to compile a co-ordinated viewpoint on black economic empowerment in agriculture based on what has already been agreed upon in the Strategic Plan for Agriculture. Progress in this regard will be reported on and evaluated at Agri SA's congress in October. On this occasion special attention will be given to the respective responsibilities of all interest groups with regard to Agri BEE.

Agri SA will also participate in government processes that can contribute to better understanding, which will give rise to mutually acceptable Agri SEB targets and programmes. "We have already nominated people who can serve in a relevant working group of the minister for this purpose, said Grobler.

Enquiries:
Mnr Japie Grobler; Agri SA President, 082 825 8018
Mnr Lourie Bosman, Agri SA Deputy Presidenr, 082 388 3000 or 017 819 1295
Mnr Hans van der Merwe, Agri SA Executive Director, 082 388 0001 or

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