FARM WORKERS EXPLOITED AT MAGWA TEA ESTATE (Minister's Response)

The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Deputy Speaker, in responding to the situation at the Magwa plantation, we are engaging the province, but we are being led by the local leadership of that area.

The matter is not as easy as presented by the hon member. It involves internal claims in that locality. I am in touch with the King of the area. We are planning a meeting together with the Department of Tourism so that we can come up with a programme that does not focus only on tea, but also looks at other crops that can be planted so that the livelihood of those people can be improved.

I will not venture into determination of wages ...

... ngoba ndiyawazi umnqamelo aqamele ngawo khona ukuze abe uthi ama-R5000 ilungile. Ndiyayazi ukuba xa kusenziwa uhlenga-hlengiso lwemivuzo kuye kujongwe uninzi lwezinto, kuqinisekiswe ukuba xa usithi makuhlawulwe ama- R5000 ngenyanga, loo nto uyibhekiselele entwenini. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)

[... because I know what his plans are that made him to come up with R5 000. It is right. I know there are a lot of things that are considered when a salary adjustment is made, to confirm the reasons why R5 000 should be paid per month.]

Deputy Speaker, I have a point of order.

What is your point of order? Just hold on, hon Minister. Take your seat. Hon Chief Whip, what are you rising on?

Deputy Speaker I am rising because the hon Minister is responding to a motion without notice on the Magwa Tea Estate, which was rejected by the House, and not a member's statement. If he wants to debate the motion without notice on the Magwa Tea Estate, then the ruling party should have supported the motion. The Minister is now involved in responding to a motion, not a member's statement.

Okay. Finish off, hon Minister.

Mandicele uxolo kulo ungaphaya kuba khange ndiyive ikhatywa. Ndicinga ukuba lo mba ubuphakanyiswa yi-EFF ubalulekile kuba ke le nto idla umzi kuba aba bantu balaa ndawo kufuneka sibancedile. Ndicinga ukuba ilungu le-EFF ebeliphakamise lo mba liya kuba nathi ukuze siqinisekise ukuba asithethi nje koko siya sebenza. Enkosi. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)

[Let me apologise to the one on the other side because I haven't seen it rejected. I think the issue raised by the EFF is very important because it relates to something that is a bone of contention within that community. I think the EFF member who raised the issue will be with us so that we ensure that we don't just talk, but we do. Thank you.]