Sugar cane SONA 2023

The sugar cane industry expects President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce measures to save the industry.

SONA 2023: Ramaphosa must announce measures to save the sugar industry

The sugar cane industry expects President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce measures to save the industry.

Sugar cane SONA 2023

The sugar cane industry expects President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce measures to save the industry.

SA Canegrowers says President Cyril Ramaphosa must announce substantial measures to save the one million livelihoods that depend on the sugar industry during his 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, 9 February 2023.

SONA 2023: RAMAPHOSA MUST NOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SUGAR INDUSTRY

SA Canegrowers spokesperson Kabelo Kgobisa says sugarcane growers have suffered tremendously in recent years. Partly also resulted from violent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal, devastating floods, and skyrocketing input costs.

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More recently, SA Canegrowers data revealed that the industry is expected to lose R723 million in 2023 alone due to load shedding-related irrigation challenges.

“The sugar industry is trying to support the most vulnerable industry participants. We need to hear from the President that the government is doing the same.”

Kabelo Kgobisa

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SONA 2023: RAMAPHOSA MUST BE CLEAR ON THE SAVING THE INDUSTRY

Kgobisa says in Ramaphosa’s SONA 2023 address he must make clear the importance of the sugar industry in particular and of rural economies in general.

“SA Canegrowers is calling on the President to use his SONA to highlight the government’s measures to match the industry’s commitment to saving businesses and jobs.”

Kabelo Kgobisa
SONA 2023 President Cyril Ramaphosa
The sugar industry expects President Cyril Ramaphosa to speak on the industry in his SONA 2023 address. Photo: Nic BOTHMA / POOL / AFP

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The industry asks that government action steps include scrapping the job-killing HPL, reiterating its commitment to procuring only locally produced sugar, and ensuring departments comply. It must also provide short-term relief to sugar cane growers to mitigate the impact of load shedding. This includes a higher diesel rebate and tax incentives for alternative energy sources.

Kgobisa says they welcome the disbursement of more than R79 million in transformation funding. This is for small-scale growers at the end of January 2023.

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“The payment, made by the South African Sugar Association, brings the total transformation funding this season to R216 million; however, it is not enough to save the country’s more than 21,000 small-scale growers.”

Kabelo Kgobisa

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