TLU SA is still committed to ensuring food reaches every South African, despite the negative consequences of the period of lockdown.
The flow of food to communities are disrupted and even halted. Famine is the last thing South Africa can afford. No lockdown or safety measures will be able to stop hunger.
“During the last physical meeting of the ministerial task group – before lockdown – TLU SA emphasised the importance of the continued flow of food to communities,” says Mr Louis Meintjes, the president of TLU SA. “The informal sector receives around 30% of all food, but that is where the most significant bottleneck lies. This group will be the first to protest when there is no more food.”
TLU SA constantly underlined the senseless obstacles which do not affect the spread of COVID-19, in the task group.
For example, an informal trader needs a permit from the municipality before they can sell food, but some of them have to travel up to 100 kilometres to get such a document. Will having the permit stop the spread of the virus?
TLU SA is thankful about the initiatives across the country to try and solve the threatening food shortages. In some towns, our members are involved in these dynamic actions, while others are helping out on more substantial scale national projects. The network of awareness and action projects of organisations like Helping Hand, Saai and WeCook is imperative.
“We have helped farmers and communities supplying food to families in need from our TLU SA Trauma Fund,” says Mr Meintjes. “We work with worthy organisations and churches to distribute the limited products as best we can. But, the senseless limitations will only enhance the shortage of food and agricultural products will soon reach its destination with great difficulty. The government will have to seriously consider letting go of the regulations keeping food away from South Africans.
“We want to encourage our members to continue helping as far as possible,” he says. “TLU SA confirmed its commitment to the cause during a digital conference with the executive committee. We are also thankful for the contributions made to the Trauma Fund.”
Farmers are once again requested to establish how they can make food available at places within the safety measures and where it is practical to do so.
Contributions to the Trauma Fund – an art. 18-organisation – are welcomed.
Bank details: TLU Traumafonds
ABSA
Account number 405 168 9914
Branch code 632005
TLU SA toegewyd tot kosvoorsiening ondanks beperkings
TLU SA is steeds toegewyd om te verseker dat voedsel elke inwoner van die land bereik, hoewel die inperking egter reeds tot heelwat negatiewe gevolge gelei het.
Die vloei van voedsel na gemeenskappe word gerem en selfs versteur. Die gevolglike kosnood is die laaste ding wat Suid-Afrika kan bekostig. Honger ken geen reëls en geen inperking of veiligheidsmaatreëls kan dit verhoed nie.
“TLU SA het tydens die laaste fisiese Taakgroep-vergadering van die minister van landbou – voordat die inperking afgeskop het – die belangrikheid van die deurlopende vloei van voedsel na gemeenskappe beklemtoon,” sê mnr. Louis Meintjes, die president van TLU SA. “Ongeveer 30% van alle kos gaan na die informele sektor toe, maar dit is juis waar die bottelnek die grootste is. Dié groep sal ook eerste in opstand kom as daar nie kos is nie.”
TLU SA het deurlopend hindernisse wat nie sin maak nie, en ook nie die verspreiding van COVID-19 sal beïnvloed nie, in die Taakgroep uitgelig.
‘n Informele handelaar moet byvoorbeeld ‘n permit van die munisipaliteit hê voordat voedsel verkoop mag word, maar in sommige gevalle moet die handelaar tot 100km ver reis vir sodanige permit. Gaan die besit van so ‘n permit die virus bekamp?
TLU SA neem met dank kennis van die inisiatiewe regoor die land wat dreigende voedseltekorte probeer oplos. Ons lede is in sommige dorpe betrokke by sulke dinamiese aksies, terwyl ander by die landswye projekte help. Die netwerk van bewusmaking en aksie onder organisasies soos Helpende Hand, Saai en WeCook is onontbeerlik.
“Ons het self uit TLU SA se Traumafonds hulp verskaf aan boere en gemeenskappe wat bydra om voedsel te verskaf aan gesinne waar dit nie meer beskikbaar is nie,” sê mnr. Meintjes. “Ons werk saam met verdienstelike organisasies en kerke om die beperkte middele so goed as moontlik te versprei. Maar, die onsinnige beperkings sal die kosnood vererger en landbouprodukte sal uiteindelik baie moeilik die eindbestemming bereik. Die regering sal – in belang van die land se inwoners – ernstig moet besin om die regulasies wat kos van mense weghou, te laat vaar.
“Ons wil ons lede egter aanmoedig om steeds dinamies en volhoudend voort te gaan om soveel as moontlik te help,” sê hy. “TLU SA se uitvoerende komitee het tydens ‘n kuberkonferensie weer ons verbintenis tot hierdie saak bevestig en dank uitgespreek oor die bydraes wat tot die Traumafonds gemaak word.”
Boere word opnuut versoek om vas te stel hoe voedsel beskikbaar gestel kan word by plekke waar dit binne die veiligheidsmaatreëls en prakties is om te lewer.
Bydraes tot die Traumafonds – ‘n art.18-instellling – is welkom.
Bankbesonderhede: TLU Traumafonds
ABSA
Rekeningnommer 405 168 9914
Takkode 632005
