Following an invitation by the SA Canegrowers’ leadership earlier this year, the Deputy Minister for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Nomalungelo Gina paid a courtesy visit to the organisation this week.
SA Canegrowers’ Chairman, Andrew Russell said the meeting was aimed at introducing the workings of the industry and SA Canegrowers to the government leadership. At the same time, he said, the group were able to emphasise the crucial role the sugarcane industry plays in supporting rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
“We valued the Minister’s visit as it gave us an opportunity to explain how our industry works, its value and the importance of ensuring its longterm survival to ensure the health of our rural economies. We were also able to settle some misperceptions,” Russell said.
Russell described the meeting as positive, instructive and constructive.
“Minister Gina was well-informed and used the opportunity to ask questions which she herself had with regard to the industry,” he added.
Caption: from left, Suresh Naidoo, SA Canegrowers’ Board; Andrew Russell, Chairman of the SA Canegrowers Board; Deputy Minister for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Nomalungelo Gina; SA Canegrowers’ Board Vice Chairman, Kiki Mzoneli and Higgins Mdluli, SA Canegrowers’ Board.