ADRESS BY MEC DESBO
MOHONO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE
CANNABIS MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
WEBINAR HELD AT
POTCHEFSTROOM AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
DR.KENNETH KAUNDA DISTRICT
ON THE, 28th SEPTEMBER 2021
PROGRAMME DIRECTOR
JB MARKS MAYOR-Cllr. MARIA MATABOGE
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT-RRE THUPI MOKHATLE
CANNIBIS LICENCING-MS MOKGADI FAFUDI
RULES AND REGULATION-MS FRANCINA RAKGATLHA
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY –DR.B KOLE
PROVINCIAL PRODUCER-MR.D MOTONA
ALL MEDIA HOUSES PRESENT
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
Let me take this moment to welcome everybody who embraced our invite
as the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Again let me cast aside my greetings and say “AHOI RASTAFARAI, JAH
BLESS US ALL”. Ladies and Gentlemen it is said “things only go wrong
when right people keep quiet” now contrary to the above statement I
must allude and perhaps make mention of the Rastafarian community
at its entirety for being consistent in making sure that we see the light at
the very end of the warren for the usage of the recreational cannabis and
all its benefits. Moseka phofu wa gaabo ga a nke a swa lentswe,
ebile Mmetlakgola ya borwa o e betla a e lebisitse gaabo.
Today’s cannabis master plan webinar is historic in a sense that as a
province we will also be counted amongst those who are rooting
unapologetically for the recreational herb and its advantages instead of
always being bombarded with negativity towards this herb. The day was
the 18th and the year was 2018 when history was written in bold letters
after the constitutional court ruling allowing South Africans to smoke
cannabis in the comfort of their own homes, thus recognizing the
commercialization of cannabis. This was based on section 14 of South
African Constitution, which enshrines a right to privacy that includes the
right of persons not to have their persons, homes, or property searched, or
their possessions seized.
As the North West Department of Agriculture upon hearing the court ruling
it was music in our ears and more especially to our people and some of our
interested farmers saw it as an opportunity to really tap into the industry
freely. Now we saw it fit to really spread our wings with this platform in
trying to bring all stakeholders on board in making sure that in going
forward our plan and strategy will be tact and most importantly will favor
our people more especially farmers that wants to tap into this hemp
industry.
Our farmers can tap into hemp fiber, hemp seeds, hemp oils, medicinal
purposes, juice and finally as a recreational drug. Now as a province we
are saying we know that the entire universe is facing slothful growth
economically due to the dread ramifications of COVID 19.The sooner the
master plan strategy is derived and implemented the sooner we can
reposition the landscape of job creation and plough back to casting aside
poverty brims.
Ladies and Gentlemen currently our country cannabis industry is estimated
at a whooping R 28 billion, not millions. It is researched that the bulk of
the sector is operating underground and products are flying off the shelves
within the black market. Ladies and Gentlemen as a country we are big on
recreation but now we have to be creative and come up with ways for
direct benefits for our people. The status-qou in our province is similar to
the country at large, though we have a legally approved Cannabis
Development Council (CDC). This congress is largely constituted by
producers who have been with the process for some time. Thus far within
the province we have two (2) small holder producers that are certified from
the Department of Health, and they have been able to continuously do
some research and the feasibility on Cannabis.
I am also proud Ladies and Gentlemen to announce that within the
province there is already an established organization that has been licensed
for commercial and medicinal production purposes. The provincial task
team will soon be fully functional in making sure that as a province we are
not left behind. The committee will comprise of government personnel and
social partners like your state owed entities and core industry role players.
As we all know that in every positive endeavor there’s always negative
energy attached. Cannabis has a long standing stigma about its usage
and people only focusing on preaching about it being a dangerous drug.
Now the ball is in our courts as a province to make sure that we dispel
those myths entirely. We have to make sure as government that we
push the mandate of this master plan very hard including issues
of public education in regard to the advantages of this herb. The
onus and the obligation of changing our people’s mindsets is a task
that has to be given all the necessary attention. As the North West
province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, we are not
going to wait and feed on the day of the market, but rather we are
forging ahead in making sure that we educate and ignite the interest
from our people to make a living out of this herb Ladies and Gentlemen.
I further take this opportunity to encourage all to have fruitful deliberations
thus mapping our path and setting the tone as the North West province on
cannabis economic growth.
“AHOI RASTAFARAI AHOI”
Ke a leboga – I thank you! MEC Desbo Mohono North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development