Here is the press release from the Black Farmers Association of South Africa (BFASA) confirming the date set for the march and their demands of SAPHRA as well as their expectations from the government under South Africa’s constitution Black Farmers Association of South Africa (BFASA) is advising all, on the planned protest action on the 22nd April 2021 against SAHPRA , necessary permits have granted by local authorities to allow for the Thousands of BFASA members and affiliates who will be mobilized in support of this action. It is well known by now the role which BFASA plays in bridging the interested parties (Indigenous People, Monarchs, Traditional Healers, Rural Agriculture and Rastafarians) with the commercial road to market for all cannabis and hemp products from seed to end users. SAHPRA has stated publicly that their actions in using the Apartheid era act of 1965 to allow them to issue licenses to whites only and foreigners, to the deliberate exclusion of the indigenous population, are at the specific instructions of the Minister of Health. SAHPRA’s board mentions on record, that Dr. Zweli Mkhize, Minister of Health is to blame for the monopolization of the Cannabis Industry because it is him who grants the licenses to the white owned companies and if that is the truth then Dr. Zweli Mkhize must step down ! In terms of section 22C (1) (b) of medicine and related substance Act, 1965 (ACT 101 of 1965) (The medicine ACT) read as follows: (b) the council may, on application in the prescribed manner and on payment of the prescribed fee, issue to a manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor of a medicine or medical device a licence to manufacture, act as a wholesaler of or distribute, as the case may be, such medicine or medical device, upon such conditions as to the application of such acceptable quality assurance principles and good manufacturing and distribution practices as the council may determine Thus means that SAHPRA has been given authority to decide how to issue cannabis licences to public, but SAHPRA colleagues (Prof Rees, Mama Hella & Dr. Semete) always maintain that Minister of Health is responsible for the ACT that direct SAHPRA how to issue these licences to white international companies. We feel that the skew allocation of these licences to white companies it is a crime against the Black Economic Empowerment Policy and the Constitution of our country as detailed below:

PREAMBLE

We, the people of South Africa,

• Recognise the injustices of our past;
• Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land;
• Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and
• Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our
• diversity.

We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this

Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to –

Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;

Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law;

Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and

Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.

This act does not prescribe to SAHPRA who they must issue the cannabis licenses to; however, we notice as BFASA that these licenses are given to white international companies. SAHPRA’s process, fees for applications of licenses, shows radical fight against transformation, this is the highest form of segregating people from rural areas which are majority of previously disadvantaged. The way currently things are, SAHPRA is not upholding the South African Supreme rule of law, our constitution by ignoring the demographics status as the issuing licences. (Violation of South African Human rights).

WHY MUST SAHPRA BE SHUT Down?:

1. SAHPRA has handed over our Cannabis industry to white monopoly colonialists. (Racists)
2. SAHPRA services and maintains the white monopoly colonialists in our cannabis industry with no thought of improving and allowing the less fortunate and previously disadvantaged into the industry.
3. Their licensing system is rigged with ridiculous systems that are expensive to ensure that our previously disadvantaged has minimal method of entry.
4. SAHPRA’s board mentions on record that Dr. Zweli Mkhize, Minister of Health is too blame for the monopolization of the Cannabis Industry because it is him who grants the licenses to the white owned companies and if that is the truth then Dr. Zweli Mkhize must step down!
5. SAHPRA gives no support or opportunity for black farmers who cannot afford their “normal” standard of entry.
6. SAHPRA must shut down as they clearly cannot steer our cannabis industry with a sustainable and inclusive manner.
7. SAHPRA supports the white monopoly colonialists by using an Act of 1965 to govern their licensing.
8. SAHPRA disregard our constitution that supports black economic empowerment as basic rule.
9. SAHPRA must shut down and face deeper investigation from the SPECIAL

INVESTIGATION UNIT

All that are currently involve in SAHPRA processes should be charged criminally, for being constitution delinquents.

We as BFASA would like the Health Minister to be part of the delegation that will be receiving the memorandum.