Fear lessl y the tr uth
Rural areas: FREE • Platteland: GRATIS
10
Green elephant
28 Februarie 2014
015 307 7248
The future of Tzaneen’s largest “green elephant” is still very much in the dark. Our efforts to obtain information explaining where the millions of Rands pumped into the Sapekoe Tea Estate over the past three years went, failed. Several efforts to rescue the estate (or what is left of it) failed dismally, leaving hundreds of workers jobless and their families in distress. The latest collapse started when the estate’s custodian in the redevelopment programme, the Greater Tzaneen Economic Development Agency (Gteda), was ordered off the tea plantations in March last year, with talk of prospects of a take-over by companies from the East. The order came from Mr Jacob Marule, Limpopo’s MEC for agriculture serving in the executive council of sacked premier Cassell Mathale. Marule’s predecessor, Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Dube, was anxious to get the project on track, but was transferred to health and social development.
How to “Facebook “ - page 2
When the newly appointed Premier, Mr Stan Mbathabatha, took over, he got rid of Marule and seven other MEC’s in his Exco. The new MEC for agriculture is Ms Rosina Semenya who, it is hoped, could bring a new lease of life for the starving tea estate.
The chief executive officer of Gteda, Mr Kwena Mapotho, said since Marule’s ruling the estate took a nose-dive and close to 500 jobs were lost. At this stage only 63 people are employed to maintain the 1 200 ha estate and tea plantations — facing an impossible task! Mapotho said an important meeting with Semenya on the case is imminent in an effort to create a new structure in resuscitating the project, as it will play a prominent role in Gteda’s plans to establish and promote tourism in Tzaneen. The Bulletin published numerous articles about the failures of Sapekoe Estate and the huge waste of ratepayers’ money over the last three years, but it was repeatedly dismissed by the authorities involved. At one stage Mr Roger Duffield of Limpopo Green Estate Holdings planned to harvest the tea for the extraction of a liquid which could be used against major diseases like cancer and Hiv/Aids. The project
R4
showed an employment potential of thousands of jobs, but was cancelled when Gteda failed to honour their agreement with the company. On 14 February 2013 the Bulletin (above left) revealed for the umpteenth time that the project was a failure once again, with the retrenchment of 700 workers and a total loss of R76m. This was vehemently denied by Gteda; and an alternative
local newspaper couldn’t resist the temptation to use their front page (left) for an ill-conceived report, “repudiating” the Bulletin’s report. We left it at that and patiently waited for the facts to surface, which has now happened — almost a year later. We broke the news about Sapekoe’s collapse way back in 2006 and since then we have kept our finger on the pulse. We have interviewed dozens of people, we have collected hundreds of documents, we have seen confidential correspondence and financial reports and our numerous reports on the failed attempts to revive Sapekoe has not been proved wrong once! The downfall last year came after the intervention of agriculture MEC Jacob Marule. A month later Gteda had to dissociate with the project, leaving behind many unanswered questions. Four months later Marule faced a claim against him for R1,5 billion by business man Thabo Mokwena, for breach of contract involving a chicken project. — Louis Roux & Francois Aucamp
louis@bulletin.us.com & francois@bulletin.us.com
A wasteful project!
Die atletiekseisoen staan sowaar al weer einde se kant toe en ons skole se atlete het die afgelope weke by verskeie byeenkomste uitgeblink. By Merensky het die sangleiers Saterdag bygedra tot die kleurrykheid van ‘n interskole byeenkoms.
An A3 (double A4) twenty page glossy magazine printed for the Greater Tzaneen Municipality at a cost of R18 per copy must be one of the worst examples of wasting taxpayers’ money. The quarterly rag will cost the GTM at least R72 000 per annum.
Continued on page 8
Bulletin©9119lhd140228wb
Call us now for a free quotation... We will beat any valid written quotation on the same product! *Pictures
used for illustration purposes only! Valid while stocks last. E.O.E Prices include VAT
E.O.E | c/o Bok & Jorissen Street Polokwane Email: info@levant.co.za | www.levant.co.za | Tel: 015 297 5786
TIFFANY CHAIRS R425!! NEW UPHOLSTERY FABRICS IN STORE NOW!!
Curtaining • Blinds • Upholstery • Bed Linen • Fabrics • Homeware • Carpets • Wool • Towels • Haberdashery