Die regering se inperkings op ondernemings weens die Covid-19-pandemie het familieboere in die wynbedryf met groot onsekerheid gelaat
. Daar is wyd gespekuleer dat dit dalk onmoontlik sou wees om druiwe-oeste in te win en in kelders te verwerk. ’n Hele seisoen se opbrengs sou potensieel verlore kon gaan.
Saai het sy regspan in dié verband opdrag gegee om ’n dringende regsmening te lewer aangaande die vraag of wynboere met produksie kan voortgaan. Saai was gereed om die hof dringend te nader, sou dit nodig wees.
“Danksy Saai en ander rolspelers in die landboubedryf se volgehoue druk op die regering en ons spoedige optrede, blyk dit nou dat die wynboere wel met die nodige stappe kan voortgaan om oeste te versamel en bewaar,” sê dr. Theo de Jager, direksievoorsitter van Saai.
Uit die regsmening wat ingewin is blyk dit dat die optrede van wynboere nie onwettig sou wees nie en meer duidelikheid is in die Staatskoerant van 26 Maart 2020 gegee.
Saai moedig boere aan om hulle dringend te kontak indien hul boerderypraktyke ontwrig word weens die huidige krisis, deur 066 071 6094 te skakel. Saai gaan ook steeds voort met die prosessering van die aanlyn permitaansoeke vir die landboubedryf en alle boere word aangemoedig om van dié platform gebruik te maak. Besoek www.saai.org vir meer inligting oor die aansoekproses.
ENGLISH
The government’s lockdown on businesses, resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, has left many farmers in the wine industry with feelings of uncertainty. Speculation was rife that it could mean the harvesting of grapes and processing of harvests in cellars wouldn’t be allowed. This could result in a whole season’s harvest potentially going to waste.
Saai instructed its legal team to deliver an urgent legal opinion on whether wine farmers would still be able to continue with production. Saai was ready to urgently approach the court, if it proved to be necessary.
“Thanks to Saai and other agricultural role players’ continuous pressure on the government and our speedy reaction, it has now been clarified that wine farmers will in fact be able to continue with the necessary steps for the harvesting and preservation process,” says Dr Theo de Jager, Chairperson of Saai’s board of directors.
The legal opinion confirmed that the actions of wine farmers will in no way be illegal and more information was published in the Government Gazette of 26 March 2020.
Saai urges farmers to contact them urgently should their farming practises be disrupted by the current crisis, by phoning 066 071 6094. Saai is continuing with the processing of online permit applications for the agricultural industry and all farmers are encouraged to make use of this platform. Visit www.saai.org.za for more information on how to apply.
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