Cabinet approves revised game meat strategy for South Africa

Cabinet has approved the implementation of the Revised Game Meat Strategy for South Africa, which seeks to formalise and transform the game meat industry.

Briefing the media in Pretoria on the outcomes of Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the strategy is also designed to contribute towards food security for the country.

“It aims to strengthen the game meat sector as both provider of food security and an economic growth sector that can help create job opportunities,” Ntshavheni said.

South Africa is ranked number one on the African continent for game meat production and therefore, said the Minister, needs to take full advantage of the economic opportunities that the sector provides.

“Ultimately, the strategy seeks to ensure the creation of 202 666 sustainable jobs in the game meat industry by 2030.”

The strategy will be published on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment website at www.dffe.gov.za.

Tourism Master Plan 

Cabinet has also given the go ahead for the Department of Tourism to align the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan to a new Tourism Master Plan.

An important component of the Master Plan is to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector and provides a road map for full recovery of tourism in the country.

The Tourism Sector Recovery Plan was developed to facilitate the recovery of the sector, preserve jobs and protect livelihoods.

Ntshavheni said the Master Plan will take this work to another level and facilitate new opportunities in the sector.

“The plan proposes seven intervention strategies to ensure the tourism sector returns to its glory days and that the sector becomes the centre of job creation and entrepreneurship. These interventions include stimulating demand through rigorous campaigns, promoting South Africa internationally and cutting red tape in the processing of visas and tour operator licences.

“The tourism industry is a vital contributor to the economy and supported 725 000 jobs before COVID 19. Cabinet believes that the interventions will go a long way in restoring the role of tourism in the economy and job creation,” Ntshavheni said.

Competition Commission’s work commended 

Meanwhile, Cabinet commended the work of the Competition Commission in addressing monopoly concerns in digital intermediation platforms, including ecommerce, online travel agencies, food delivery, app stores, classifieds providers and search engines.

This comes after Cabinet received a report from the Commission outlining the findings and remedial actions on the Online Intermediation Platform Market Inquiry.

Ntshavheni said Cabinet has directed Ministers of the Economic Cluster to interrogate the policy implications and recommend required policy reforms.

“Cabinet encouraged the Commission to continue its good work in enabling SME’s and previously disadvantaged people, especially Black people to actively participate in the economy of their country,” the Minister said.