The department of agriculture, land reform and rural development (DALRRD) has condemned the spreading of disinformation that bananas imported from Somalia contain helicobacter. It says there have been no recent banana imports from Somalia through any of South Africa’s ports of entry.
“DALRRD condemns, with the strongest possible terms, the fake news about imported bananas from Somalia,” department spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo wrote in a statement.
Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that enters the body and lives in the digestive tract. After many years, they can cause sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. For some people, an infection can lead to stomach cancer.
According to the department, South Africa regulates the importation of plants and plant products in terms of the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983) and its associated regulations.
Imports are inspected at the port of entry or, depending on the protocol, the consignment can be detained extensively for further inspection before its release into the retail space.
Protocol ensures that, if the consignment does not comply with South African import requirements, entry into the country is not granted.
Ngcobo said imported bananas are carefully examined by DALRRD inspectors at the ports of entry. This is to ensure that there are no quarantine pests, food-borne diseases or any other harmful foreign material that can negatively affect the agricultural industry and, in particular, consumers.
“The department continues to be vigilant in monitoring the food products that come into the country and any product that is suspected to be risky or harmful to the consumers or our territory cannot be permitted to enter the republic, or would be subjected to withdrawal from the shelves if such a risk is identified post-border or at retail level.”
The department urged South Africans to refrain from sharing such false and malicious information that can create panic to consumers.
Water rights victory
A ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) that water rights holders are entitled to transfer such rights, has been described as a long-awaited victory.
The judgement, delivered on behalf of the majority of the judges of the SCA by Justice Clive Plasket (with a dissenting judgement by Justice Tati Makgoka), follows three appeals in the Lötter, Wiid and South African Association of Water Users Associations (SAAFWUA) matters against a judgement by the Pretoria High Court in June 2020.
In this matter the Pretoria court dismissed the applications for a declaratory order on the correctness of a circular by the department of water and sanitation (DWS), dating from January 2018, in which the DWS determined that water use entitlements could not be transferred.
The ruling means that rights holders are entitled to transfer such rights in accordance with the provisions of the National Water Act and that the trading in such rights is not prohibited or unlawful.
Agri SA footed the legal costs for the Lötter and Wiid matters from its Voluntary Water Fund from the outset.
Janse Rabie, head of Agri SA’s natural resources centre of excellence, said the judgement has enormous significance for Agri SA and others.
“The ability to legally be able to transfer water use entitlements in accordance with the provisions of section 25 of the NWA is vital, particularly for the irrigation agricultural sector. The transferability of water use entitlements in terms of the NWA were envisaged right from the outset and actively endorsed and supported by the DWS,” he said.
From a legal point of view, particularly with respect to the transfer and trading of rights in accordance with the law, the issue is equally important, Rabie believes.
“This judgement by the SCA is a highly significant vindication of the position held by Agri SA and others concerning the correct interpretation of the law in South Africa,” he said.
A decision by the DWS on whether or not to appeal the ruling is now awaited.
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