Durban - Small-scale black sugar cane farmers have “dumped” the SA Cane Growers Association and are set to form their own association.
Black board members and the association’s managing director have accused their white colleagues of serving their own interests at the expense of small scale growers.
At an annual meeting at the association’s offices in Kwa-Shukela, Mount Edgecombe on November 25, all the small scale farmers walked out, complaining that issues affecting them were not on the agenda.
Relations have sunk to such depths that black directors and board members have decided to quit and form an alternative association that would “serve the interests” of black small scale cane growers.
On Tuesday last week, the director for growth and sustainability, Thandokwakhe Sibiya, tendered his resignation but was shown the door before he could serve his one-month notice.
On Thursday, Nhlanhla Gumede, the association’s managing director, also tendered his resignation, which received the same response.
A source said the two were told by the association’s chairman, Tim Murray, that they should leave immediately.
“It was childish and spiteful for Murray to tell them to leave the same day and not to bother serving their notices. The white board members are using bullying techniques when it comes to matters of small scale cane growers. That doesn’t sit well with their black colleagues, but through the autocratic rule they get away with it,” said the source.
Murray said it was in Sibiya and Gumede’s best interest to let them go without serving notice. “It was so that they could start doing whatever they had in mind when they resigned. It was for their best interest because we paid them and let them go,” Murray said.
When asked about the walk-out from the meeting, claims that the association had no interest in helping develop small scale farmers and that the association was autocratic, Murray said: “I think we should stop this interview now. We have our communications person so you can call her tomorrow.”
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for agriculture, Cyril Xaba, said he was aware of the troubles at the association.
Private sector
“The small scale growers approached me, saying they were not happy with the management style at the association, but I advised them to go back, sit down and discuss issues. I don’t want to get involved because it’s a private sector issue,” he said.
Sibiya and Gumede confirmed their resignation and that they had been shown the door without serving notice, but said they were not ready to comment on the affairs of the association.
The board comprises 14 members, eight of whom are white, four black and two Indian.
Board member, Siyabonga Madlala, said the board had no developmental programmes for small scale farmers, which was why one of the disgruntled members opted to leave.
“Our constituency consists of 90% of the association’s membership, but our needs as the majority (small scale farmers) are marginalised.
“Whenever we speak of transformation and developmental programmes for small scale black cane growers, such talks are swept under the carpet. The government provides funds for these developmental programmes, but the minority in the association were reluctant to implement this,” Madlala said.
He said between March and April, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development made available R14 million to empower small scale growers, but the money had not been used.
“We have since set up an interim committee while we deal with the process of registering an independent organisation. Our focus will be the development of rural cane growers to ensure their sustainability, as enshrined in the government’s National Development Plan,” he said.
Xaba confirmed channelling R14m through the programme to help farmers rehabilitate the land.
Another member who left the association, Andile Buthelezi, said black farmers were undermined by their white counterparts.
“Had that not been the case, the funds made available by the department would have been used towards that (empowering small scale farmers) by now.
“The number of small scale cane growers is growing, yet the money has not been used. We will be better off once we successfully register our own organisation which will focus on all small scale cane growers,” Buthelezi said.
There were about 25 000 registered small and about 1 500 large scale cane growers in KZN producing an average 20 million tons of cane, according to the association’s website.
DAILY NEWS