Fetsa Tlala: different name same problems

The launch of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries anti-hunger campaign Fetsa Tlala by Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson and President Zuma is a welcome initiative but leaves much to be desired.

Fetsa Tlala - which will receive an allocation of R2 billion - is the third anti-hunger initiative launched in the last two years by the Department. The first attempt was the Zero Hunger Campaign in 2010, then recently it was revealed that a food security programme would be coordinated by the Zuma linked NGO, Masibambisane which would receive almost R1 billion. Minister Joemat-Pettersson has since changed her tune, revoked the NGO's services and launched Fetsa Tlala.

The high turnover in projects raises serious questions about the Minister's ability to successfully manage and deliver on food security programmes while millions of South Africans remain hungry.

Furthermore, it is also very concerning that Minister Joemat-Pettersson and President Zuma launched the programme while the she and some representatives wore t-shirts with the President Zuma's image on them. The t-shirts resembled ANC branding and were potentially misleading. If the initiative is a government project, why did President Zuma's face have to be part of the branding which resembled ANC colours and design? The government cannot be at the centre of a conflict of interest and must do everything possible to not cross the lines between party and state.

It must be made clear that Fetsa Tlala is a government initiative and not an ANC programme. The Minister's branding at the launch was very misleading and conflated the lines between party and state. Government should not be seen to use state funds for ANC campaigns.

It is also pointless for the Minster to host successful programme launch events without any follow-up mechanisms in place. The Masibambisane programme in the Eastern Cape was a perfect example of negligence by the Minister. After the programme had been launched, community members were left with machinery - such as tractors - they had not been trained to utilise. This meant that millions of rands were invested into a project that lacked any follow-up structures.

I will therefore be asking parliamentary questions to determine what strategy the Minister has in place to ensure that Fetsa Tlala is a successful initiative.

The DA is committed to ensuring that hunger eradication does not remain a pipeline dream.

Statement issued by Annette Steyn MP, DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, October 27 2013

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