Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) expresses deep concern about the possible grid collapse that could have severe implications for food security and the entire food system in the country. It is disconcerting that stakeholders in the sector must beg Minister Thoko Didiza and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development for information regarding their plans to address this impending crisis.
The recent news of SA’s biggest food poultry group, Astral, reporting an almost 90% crash in interim profits highlights the continuous and costly disruptions to agri-processing businesses caused by load-shedding. This situation has left vulnerable communities in South Africa hungry and poses an even greater threat to food security.
The Minister publicly announced the establishment of Agriculture’s Energy Task Team to address the energy crisis within the farming community, but there has been a lack of clarity and information on their proposed solutions. It was only after the DA called on the Minister and Eskom’s senior management team to address this issue, that the plan, which was still a work in progress, was received by the portfolio committee.
Unfortunately, the only tangible support provided so far is the energy fund through the Land Bank, which will not accommodate all farmers as not all of them bank with the Land Bank. This situation raises concerns about the potential increase in animal herds, leading to overgrazing on some farms and increased animal feed costs due to fewer cattle going through abattoirs amid electricity problems.
The potential rise in pests and animal diseases due to electricity problems is another significant concern. Shortages of vaccines have already led to an increase in animal diseases. Moreover, the collapse of the irrigation system could result in poor-quality produce. These pressing issues must be addressed by the Minister and Eskom, who need to come forward and explain to the nation how they plan to avert a food security crisis should a grid collapse occur.
The DA commends the Premier of the Western Cape for taking proactive steps in creating a readiness plan to address the possible food crisis in the event of a total grid collapse. It is imperative that the Minister and Eskom swiftly implement their plans to safeguard our country’s food system.
The DA calls on the Minister and Eskom management to provide immediate and comprehensive information to the public regarding their strategies, timelines, and actions to address the impending grid collapse and ensure food security for all South Africans.
Regards
Noko Masipa MP
DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Wild Kitten
Diary of an Englishman after he moves to South Africa….
**August 1**: Just got transferred with work from London, UK to our new home in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa. Now this is a town that knows how to live! Beautiful, sunny days and warm, balmy evenings. I watched the sunset from a deckchair by our pool yesterday. It was beautiful. I’ve finally found my new home. I love it here.
**September 1:** Really heating up now. It got to 31 today. No problem though. Living in air-conditioned home, driving air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun every day like this. I’m turning into a sun-worshipper – no blasted rain like back in London! Had the back yard landscaped with tropical plants today. Lots of palms and rocks. No more mowing lawns for me! Another scorcher today, but I love it here. It’s Paradise !
**October 1:** The temperature hasn’t been below 35 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat? At least today it’s windy though. Keeps the flies off a bit. Acclimatizing is taking longer than we expected. Fell asleep by the pool yesterday. Got third degree burns over 60% of my body. Missed three days off work. What a dumb thing to do. Got to respect the old sun in a climate like this!
**October 25:** This wind is a bastard. It feels like a giant fucking blow dryer. And it’s hot as hell! The home air conditioner is on the blink and the repair man charged R200 just to drive over and tell me he needs to order parts from @#$# Johannesburg. The wife & the kids are complaining.
**October 30:** The temperature’s up around 40 and the parts still haven’t arrived for the fucking air conditioner. House is an oven so we’ve all been sleeping outside by the pool for 3 nights now. Bleeding R4 million house and we can’t even go inside. Why the hell did I ever come here?
**November 4:** Finally got the fucking air-conditioner fixed. It cost R1,500 and gets the temperature down to around 35 degrees. Stupid repairman. Fucking thief. If one more smart bastard says ‘Hot enough for you today?’ I’m going to fucking throttle him. Fucking heat! By the time I get to work, the car radiator is boiling over, my fucking clothes are soaking fucking wet and I smell like baked cat. Fucking place is the end of the Earth.
**November 9:** Tried to run some errands after work, wore shorts, and sat on the black leather upholstery in my car. I thought my fucking backside was on fire. I lost 2 layers of flesh, all the hair on the backs of my legs and off my fucking behind. Now the car smells like burnt hair, fried bum and baked cat. The Weather report might as well be a fucking recording – hot and sunny. Hot and sunny, Hot and fucking sunny. It’s been too hot to do anything for 2 bleeding months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Fuck!!
**November 15:** Doesn’t it ever rain in this darn place? Water restrictions will be next, so my R5,000 worth of palms might just dry up and blow into the fucking pool. The only things that thrive in this hell-hole are the fucking flies. You don’t dare open your mouth for fear of swallowing half a dozen of the little buzzards!
**November 20:** Welcome to HELL! It got to 45 degrees today. Now the air conditioner is gone in my car. The repair man came to fix it and said, ‘Hot enough for you today?’ I wanted to shove the car up his backside. Anyway, had to spend the R2,500 of the mortgage payment to bail me out of jail for assaulting the stupid fool. Fucking PHALABORWA! What kind of sick, demented idiot would want to live here!
**December 1:** WHAT!!!! The FIRST day of Summer!!!!
You are fucking kidding me, right?
Chuckles
A South African, an Australian and an Englishman are all having a drink
The Englishman and South African both drink from Pint Glasses, the Australian from a bottle.
The South African, upon draining his glass, drops in back down on the bar, pulls out a pistol, and shoots the glass.
\”In South Africa, there is so much sand that I never drink from the same glass twice!\”
The Australian, having drained his bottle, sets it down upon the bar and, upon seizing the South African\’s pistol, shoots his bottle.
\”In Australia, there is so much booze that I never drink from the same brand twice!\”
The Englishman, likewise having drained his glass, sets his glass upon the table, seizes the pistol the pistol from the Australian, and shoots the South African and the Australian, quite dead.
\”In England, there are so many of you bastards that I never drink with the same two twice!\”