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Chicken saga continues

There is more than 3,500 workers whose jobs are on the line and this is basically because their employers are facing heavy competition from cheap imported chickens from European Union countries. Speaking during a post-National Executive Committee lekgotla briefing, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said the party had resolved to pursue this as part of accelerating radical transformation of the economy and disrupting existing patterns of ownership and control. On agriculture and land reform, Mantashe said the ANC decided to defend existing jobs and create new ones, by protecting and incentivising domestic businesses and industries. "This includes the developmental state purchasing productive poultry farms currently being sold off in a bid to save jobs and increase food security and production," Mantashe stated.

However importers say that SA's chicken industry is crying wolf. David Wolpert, CEO of the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters of SA (Amiesa), SA’s beleaguered poultry industry is not under threat. "It is time to put a stop to the huge campaign of lies and distortions levied against imports," he said, adding that the local chicken industry, “which is currently experiencing massive losses, is crying wolf. Its survival is not under threat." However, he conceded the industry was “bleeding at the moment, but not because of imports". Wolpert pointed out that imports were only around 14% of the total consumption nationally. In his view, the problem facing local producers related to the high cost of feed, as well as a complete lack of an export programme. It is expected that better-than-anticipated rains and a drop in soya bean and maize prices will give producers some respite this year.

Source: SA Labour Law