Agriculture Minister Steenhuisen denounces 'misinformation campaign' against him by Sakeliga

CAPE TOWN - Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has moved to counter what he says is a misinformation and distortion campaign being waged against him by business forum Sakeliga.

Sakeliga CEO Piet le Roux said Steenhuisen is using agricultural levies to ramp up Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) in the sector. 

Speaking to the media at parliament on Tuesday, Steenhuisen said Sakeliga was sparking “baseless sensationalism” about the alleged establishment of transformation funds to advance BEE in the sector. 

Steenhuisen said it was the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) that’s the custodian of BEE in the sector and not his department.

He said le Roux has made patently false claims about BEE in the agricultural sector. 

“Mr le Roux is attempting to paint me as some BEE tsar, in order to drive Sakeliga’s own membership and income through manufacturing outrage and sensationalism.”

Steenhuisen said statutory levies which Sakeliga uses to support their claims of transformation funds have been in place since 1996, are voluntary and not determined by the minister.

“I have no role whatsoever in the utilisation of these funds, the selection of beneficiaries or directing which projects or individuals must be chosen for assistance.”

Steenhuisen pointed out that while the National Agricultural Marketing Council advises on what these levies should be, it’s the commodity organisations within the sector that determine how the funds should be spent.