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16 October 2008

Programme director
Member of Executive Council (MEC) Tina Joemat-Pettersson
MECs
District mayor
Kgosi Jantjie le dikgosi tsa rona tse di ka hano
Mayor of Gasegonyane and other mayors
All councillors
Senior managers in all spheres of government
Representatives of the private sector
Representatives of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
Beneficiaries of food security projects
Officials in all spheres of government
Learners
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Once again, we have converged on this spot united in our constitutional and moral obligation towards the preservation of humankind. In commemorating World Food Day, 16 October, we unwaveringly assert that as individuals, we owe our being to universal humanity that transcends all geographic, race, ethnic, religious and creed boundaries.

This is indeed a day in which the entire universe acknowledges the immeasurable graciousness in the individual's efforts towards the collective good that stands to bring about a better world with meaning to every new day.

It is a day in which we hail continued philanthropism in the widely known global figure and the unsung hero in every village, homestead, town and city. It is indeed a day which reminds us of the values of ubuntu.

We all assist with the little space we have, conserve our natural resources such as water, combat veld fires, soil degradation and bush encroachment particularly here in the Kgalagadi.

Lets safe what can be saved for there is always good in the little we have. The pumpkin seed destined for the rubbish bin can make a difference.

Ladies and gentlemen, the unfortunate for many of us engaged in the good that is being highlighted through the commemoration of World Food Day is indeed what stands to undo the great efforts that had been undertaken in harnessing access to safe and nutritious food for the most vulnerable.

Ladies and gentlemen, in the days leading up to today's commemoration, we found ourselves compelled to thoroughly analyse the efforts which we had undertaken in protecting the poorest of the poor against soaring food prices and the devastating impact of climate change.

Are our efforts worth writing home about and will we be able to attain are target of halving poverty by 2015? More than any other time in our lifetime, we extend a much louder clarion call to many a person to join the partnership in fighting hunger and poverty through relevant knowledge and resources.

This year theme "World Food Security, The challenge of climate change and bio-energy," calls on us as tribal authorities in control of tribal land, governments, continental and global bodies to re-evaluate our strategies in combating global hunger and the very hunger before our doorsteps and in our beloved South Africa.

Ours is to step up our efforts in the research around reversing the negative impact of climate change, sharpen debates aimed at finding solutions to land degradation, find tangible balance in the demand for bio-energy against the supply of food for poverty reduction and food security.

Ladies and gentlemen, as World Food Day strikes, as a province we always deem it fit to highlight our upward investment in our collective effort in the eradication of poverty. I would like to reflect on our investment in food security for the eradication of poverty by taking you all on a five year expenditure journey.

We deepened the functioning of the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme,(IFSNP), championed by the Department of Agriculture and Land Reform and supported by Departments of Health, Education and Social Development.

Programme director, allow me to point out that the through our co-ordinated interdepartmental strategy, we shall by the end of the this financial year reach a total expenditure of over R400 million that would have been spend in the fight against poverty by the Northern Cape Provincial Government from equitable share and conditional grants since 2004.

The allocations per department

Department of Agriculture and Land Reform
A total allocation of R21 950 000 since 2004 which includes this financial year's appropriated amount of R4 950 000, food security projects for household food production, income generation and job creation. A total beneficiary figure of over four thousand is likely to be attained by the end of next year March.

Department of Social Services
R9 million for this financial year with a total allocation of, R50 723 600 since 2004, covering community food gardens, drop-in centres and soup kitchens targeting orphans and vulnerable children, youth, people with disabilities, people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Department of Education
Funds from national (conditional grant) and allocation from province (equitable share) for last financial year was R65 373 400 and this financial year R81 300 000 benefiting 168 000 primary school learners and 76 600 secondary school learners from a total of 143 provincial schools. The School Nutrition Programme provides employment to over a thousand women who prepare meals for learners. The allocation also caters for school food gardens equipment. The total R303 million since 2004.

Department of Health
The Department's integrated nutrition programme's contribution to food security targeting clients/patients found to be malnourished. Last year an allocation of R2 million was made for the supplementation at primary healthcare facilities. The provision of food parcels boosted this year's budget to an exponential amount of R12 million with a total allocation R20 million since 2004.

In conclusion, Ladies and gentlemen, equal rights and justice do bear an inextricable link with justice. It is us leaders in government, public servants, leaders and representatives of civil society, leaders of industry and businessperson that can commit more will to the plight of those that are poverty stricken.

Let us stop all ills that undermine health, education, productivity and environmental sustainability in our support to the International Alliance Against Hunger.

Let us stage a united front in our fight against hunger and advance environmental activism in the age of climate change. May we act responsibly in the promotion of bio-energy without sacrificing the need for food meant for human consumption.

I thank you.

Issued by: Northern Cape Provincial Government
16 October 2008