THURSDAY, 8.30AM
AGRICULTURE Minister Derek Hanekom sacked all 13 members of the Meat Board on Wednesday after complaints from industry organisations such as the Red Meat Forum and the Meat Traders’ Association.
The Meat Board, which was to oversee the deregulation of the industry, had been mired in indecision for months due to disagreements among the members. Former board chairman board Frikkie Botha seemed relieved on Wednesday at the suspension of his commitee, saying that Hanekom’s letter stressed that the move did not reflect upon the members, but was the only way to put the process back on track.
All marketing boards in the agriculture industry are to be phased out by January 5 next year, according to Hanekom’s deregulation timetable, and the meat board is way behind schedule. A new ten-member board has been appointed with immediate effect, to serve the remaining months until January 5.