Racial change sought for produce market

Racial transformation in Nelson Mandela Bay's fresh produce market is happening too slowly, say councillors in the economic development, tourism and agriculture committee.

Economic development and recreational services executive director Zolile Siswana said the issue of transformation in companies had been addressed with the market agents and the current status was that four companies out of five were 100% white-owned.

There was only one company that was 60% black-owned and 40% white-owned. Gqalane said although the National Agricultural Marketing Council had proposed that transformation should be made by 2014, the municipality should act immediately.

“It is a slap in our face that we find such institutions after 13 years of democracy,” he said.

The National Agricultural Marketing Council proposed that the target set for 2014 should include that 30% of volumes were to be traded through black-commissioned market agents.

It also proposed that at least 25%of existing agencies had to have black economic empowerment involvement.

Source: The Herald

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