| Minister Taking Interest in Turn Around Strategy of Land Bank
In November last year, the Departments of Agriculture and Land Affairs held a Lekgotla to review progress on priority programmes of the departments, identify challenges, align our programs and capacity to deliver, and fast track delivery. Among the priorities identified was the Land Bank, and our aim was to turn around and refocus the Land Bank to ensure that it delivers on its mandate, particularly its contribution to promoting previously disadvantaged individuals in the agriculture sector, development in the agriculture sector and AgriBEE, and that it remains sustainable. Support to the previously disadvantaged communities by the Land Bank should assist Government in the redistribution of 30% of agricultural land by 2014 and other land reform objectives. Government has reaffirmed its support to the Land Bank by extending a capital guarantee of R1.5 billion, and a further cash injection of R700 million to support its turn around strategy and to provide a prudent level of capital adequacy to ensure that the Bank fulfils its mandate.
Council doles out cash
ONTARIO - The Ontario City Council voted unanimously Monday night to grant police more evidence space for $8,055, approved a $50,000 business loan and entered into a $70,000 technology agreement with the Ontario School District.One of the places Ontario Police Department stores evidence is inside of a prisoner holding cell, which Ontario Police Department Capt. Mark Alexander said will not help his department become accredited with a police accredition agency.Alexander asked the council Monday night during its regular meeting in city hall to let police use a newly acquired apartment across the street as an evidence room. He also requested the council release $8,055 from the city's general contingency to fund evidence lockers, window barriers and door frames for the new evidence room.Some evidence is worth a lot of money, other evidence is not, and items seized by police range in size from as small as a bullet to as large as a door.Freeing up the holding cell at the police station, Alexander said, would ease the custody situation, because juveniles cannot be put in a cell with adults and women cannot be placed in the same holding tank as men.
Daily Briefs
Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally said Wednesday the company's sweeping turnaround plan remains on track but that the automaker needs to pursue consolidations within its dealership network to improve its fortunes. Mulally, speaking to reporters at the New York International Auto Show, also suggested "our wages and benefits are not where they need to be to be competitive," in advance of significant contract talks this summer with the United Auto Workers. Ford Motor Co., which has announced plans to shutter 16 plants, lost $12.7 billion last year and mortgaged its factories, brand names and other items to secure a $23.4 billion line of credit to fund its restructuring plan and cover losses expected until 2009. In a speech opening the auto show, Mulally billed it "the biggest home improvement loan in the history of mankind." Negotiator defends S.
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