• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Lifestyle
Young farmers operating under the Thlapi Zizi banner will be given access to a new state-owned farm following Ivan Cloete's victory on Colenso farm. From the left are Roger Paulus, Bakang Monegi, Pholoso Malatji and Naomi Malatji. Photo: Food For Mzansi

Colenso’s new heirs hit back in land reform debacle

22nd February 2021
Podcast: How to access fresh produce markets in SA

Podcast: How to access fresh produce markets in SA

1st December 2023

Food For Mzansi serves as ideal launching pad for farmers

1st December 2023
Let this saucy oxtail recipe take you back down memory lane

Let this saucy oxtail recipe take you back down memory lane

1st December 2023
Arendse puts her eggs in many baskets while aiming for the skies

Arendse puts her eggs in many baskets while aiming for the skies

1st December 2023
ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

1st December 2023
Food inflation fury grips Mzansi: BFAP sounds alarm

Food inflation fury grips Mzansi: BFAP sounds alarm

1st December 2023
In pictures: Safeguarding indigenous plants for the future

In pictures: Safeguarding indigenous plants for the future

30th November 2023
Food for Mzansi gives voiceless farmers a much-needed voice

Food For Mzansi gives voiceless farmers a much-needed voice

30th November 2023
The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group unveils the November 2023 Household Affordability Index, exposing surging expenses and stagnant wages affecting South African households. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Economic squeeze: Families struggle as costs soar

30th November 2023

Faces of Summer: Celebrate the rich history of Thokozani Wines

30th November 2023
Limpopo seeks revival of economy by putting farmers first

Limpopo seeks revival of economy by putting farmers first

30th November 2023
ICYMI: NW agri dept ramps up goat farming with handover

ICYMI: NW agri dept ramps up goat farming with handover

30th November 2023
Friday, December 1, 2023
15 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Login
Food For Mzansi
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
Food For Mzansi
Home News

Colenso’s new heirs hit back in land reform debacle

by Noluthando Ngcakani
22nd February 2021
in News
Reading Time: 9 mins read
A A
Young farmers operating under the Thlapi Zizi banner will be given access to a new state-owned farm following Ivan Cloete's victory on Colenso farm. From the left are Roger Paulus, Bakang Monegi, Pholoso Malatji and Naomi Malatji. Photo: Food For Mzansi

Young farmers operating under the Thlapi Zizi banner will be given access to a new state-owned farm following Ivan Cloete's victory on Colenso farm. From the left are Roger Paulus, Bakang Monegi, Pholoso Malatji and Naomi Malatji. Photo: Food For Mzansi

A youth-led farming enterprise known as Tlhapi Zizi says their dream of growing from up-and-coming to commercial-scale farmers now hang in the balance. This is due to government’s dispute with pig farmer Ivan Cloete over Colenso, a West Coast farm.

Earlier this month, Cloete, a land reform beneficiary, was given seven days’ notice to leave the Colenso state farm after it was allegedly re-assigned to a MK veteran.

COLENSO: Award-winning pig farmer Ivan Cloete lost his Western Cape farm after his lease agreement with government was ended. Photo: Supplied/ Food For Mzansi
Award-winning pig farmer Ivan Cloete lost his Western Cape farm after his lease agreement with government was ended. Photo: Supplied/ Food For Mzansi

This has led to a heated public debate with deputy minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development Mcebisi Skwatsha admitting that the 56-year-old Cloete was not treated fairly.

Now, in an exclusive interview with Food For Mzansi, the new beneficiaries say they are caught up in a dilemma that they certainly didn’t see coming.

To their knowledge, they are the legal and soon-to-be only occupants of Colenso. Contrary to public perception, they say they are also agriculturists at heart.

Tlhapi Zizi’s chief operating officer, Pholoso Malatji, and his partners reject allegations of political affiliation and “underhanded dealings” brought forward by the DA’s shadow minister for agriculture, Annette Steyn.

We can reveal that the group of supposed ANC MK veterans operating under the banner of Tlhapi Zizi (Pty) Ltd, who have been allocated to grab Mr Ivan Cloete’s farm in the Western Cape already own farms.

The DA will put a strong fight against this and EWC!https://t.co/2IYhFJ0nYw

— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) February 18, 2021

“This is very disturbing to us; to be faced with meddling from politicians and government. That is not our interest at all. We want access to the farm so that we can start working the land,” the 34-year-old Malatji says.

COLENSO
Last week, Ivan Cloete related his experiences to Western Cape minister of agriculture Dr Ivan Meyer. Photo: Supplied/ Food For Mzansi

“The government procedure which we followed is open for scrutiny because it was clean, clear and to the point. We did not entertain any underhanded or any irregular processes through our application.

“Our team is comprised of experienced professionals in various fields, including animal sciences, which was a requirement.”

Cloete’s removal from the Colenso farm in Darling, about 80km from Cape Town, was debated widely since he first shared the news with Food For Mzansi.

Last week, it was even debated in parliament after DA leader John Steenhuisen questioned President Cyril Ramaphosa about it.

“I am very emotional,” Cloete told us.

”I am a farmer. They (the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development) placed me there. It is not like I came here and invaded this property. The department placed me here. I don’t know anymore.”

ALSO READ: Cloete to remain on Darling farm for now

In the last decade as a beneficiary of government’s proactive land acquisition strategy (PLAS), Cloete faced many uphill battles. Colenso – an 870-hectare mixed farming enterprise – would be the third farm he is being kicked off.

His Colenso state lease include 1 200 sheep, a piggery unit with capacity for more than 300 sows, and over 400-hectares of arable land.

A department under fire

While Skwatsha conceded that officials may have flouted a 30-year lease agreement with Cloete, Steyn also questions government’s integrity. She revealed that Cloete was being replaced by a group of “ANC-linked MK veterans” operating under the banner of Tlhapi Zizi.

According to Malatji the entity was registered in 2020 and it is comprised of a majority youth and black women.

Food For Mzansi has independently verified that Tlhapi Zizi’s registered directors are Lesedi Baisitse (55) and Mziwamadoda Kalako (65). Its registered non-executive directors are Pholoso Malatji (34), Phemelo Malatji (37), Roger Paulus (36), Bakang Monegi (27) and Kauthar Woodman (35).

Mziwamadoda Kalako (65), a former ANC member of parliament. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi
Mziwamadoda Kalako (65), a former ANC member of parliament. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Tlhapi Zizi directors who face public scrutiny include businessmen Baisitse and Kalako, a former ANC member of parliament who ended his political career in 2014.

Steyn however speculates that this could have “played a role in influencing the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development’s decision to evict Cloete from the Colenso farm.”

Steyn, and other media reports, also suggested the Tlhapi Zizi directors were already individually successful farmers in the Western Cape.

Malatji tells Food For Mzansi when applications for Colenso opened in July 2020, Kalako had already served his 12-month recusal period as a parliamentarian.

Kalako was approached by them based on his status as an uMkhonto we Sizwe veteran, which boosted their application in terms of the requirements set by government.

DA shadow minister of rural development and land reform, Annette Steyn.
DA shadow minister of rural development and land reform, Annette Steyn. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Baisitse (55) is a director and owner of a minority stake in Piketberg Sunrise Farms. Malatji is co-founder and head of operations for Africa For Cannsun Medicinals, an Atlantis-based farming operation wholly owned by Cannsun Medhel Group PLC registered in Dublin, Ireland.

“They jumped the gun,” insists Malatji. “It was apparent that the claims made by the DA and allied parties were ill-informed – obviously because they received short-sighted information.”

While the Tlhapi Zizi directors have at least 20 years’ joint farming experience, Colenso would be their first time farming as individuals separated from their respective businesses.

“We saw it fit to approach Mr Kalako as a military veteran because that was one of the criteria on the application, and he consented to that,” says Malatji.

“We did follow-ups on the process and until recently, on 31 January 2021, the department invited us to come to the farm so that (Cloete could) hand over the keys.”

Interim farm caretaker

Malatji also disputes reports that Cloete had “productively farmed” on Colenso. For the past year, he says government had, in fact, assigned André Kirsten, a commercial farmer with over 20 years’ experience, as the interim caretaker of Colenso.

COLENSO
The Tlhapi Zizi farming enterprise includes black youth and women. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

According to Malatji, Kirsten has been farming grains productively, commercially producing lupin, lucerne and oats while overseeing the state investment.

“Mr Cloete has misled a lot of people. He has misled the media. He has even misled political commentators. He has even posted videos with machinery he has never used. Even with the feed that he posted, it belongs to Kirsten. He has never produced grains on that farm.”

However, when officials visited the farm on 1 February, not only did they serve Cloete with an eviction notice, they also terminated Kirsten’s contract as caretaker.

Kirsten confirms this to Food For Mzansi. He explains that he and Cloete had entered a joint venture during their time on the farm. He had farmed grains commercially while Cloete took care of the livestock, including government’s sheep flock.

André Kirsten, a commercial farmer with over 20 years' experience. Photo: WhatsApp
André Kirsten, a commercial farmer with over 20 years’ experience. Photo: WhatsApp

“They put me off the farm the same day they evicted Mr Cloete. We had a type of a joint venture where I had provided feed and everything for him and he was in control of the sheep farm,” says Kirsten.

However, he dismisses Tlhapi Zizi’s allegations that the Colenso farm was not used productively. Kirsten says, “How can they say he (Cloete) was not productive while they were not on the farm?”

Cloete meanwhile confirms to Food For Mzansi that he will fight his eviction from Colenso in the courts.

He says, “They (Tlhapi Zizi) are not the new owners. They think they are the new owners. They are the unlawful owners. We are taking this matter to court. They are not the new owners until this matter is resolved.”

An emotional Cloete adds, “What they are trying to do is take my bread and my family’s bread out of our mouths. That is what the department is doing. This is my income.”

ALSO READ: Black farmers ‘betrayed by government’

New season approaching

Malatji and his partners are concerned that Cloete’s refusal to evacuate Colenso might compromise their own operations, as grain-growing season is expected to start in April. “We do not want to lose the productive period. The process between government and Mr Cloete is none of our concern.”

Furthermore, Malatji notes that Cloete is the legal holder of a 30-year lease agreement on his previous farm in Porterville. His stay on Colenso, he believes, was therefore merely temporary – a statement corroborated by Skwatsha.

“We don’t want to be meddled up in issues between the department and Mr Cloete. That is for them to handle. We have rightfully applied and been allocated the lease to Colenso,” says Malatji.

“We have the adequate capacity to operate the farm to its full potential. We have the financial capacity. We have the skillset. We have the experience and know who to approach in the market for us to be able to trade.”

ALSO READ: Cloete case ‘unmasks fragility of land redistribution’

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
Tags: AFASAANCAnnette SteynCannsun Medhel Group PLCColensoColenso ScandalDemocratic AllianceIvan CloeteIvan MeyerJohn SteenhuisenLesedi BaisitseMziwamadoda KalakoPholoso MalatjiPicketberg Sunrise FarmsThlapi Zizi (Pty.) Ltd
Previous Post

Beyond hope: A farmer battles Covid-19 odds

Next Post

Stock theft: Education boss busted for stolen cattle

Noluthando Ngcakani

Noluthando Ngcakani

With roots in the Northern Cape, this Kimberley Diamond has had a passion for telling human interest stories since she could speak her first words. A foodie by heart, she began her journalistic career as an intern at the SABC where she discovered her love for telling agricultural, community and nature related stories. Not a stranger to a challenge Ngcakani will go above and beyond to tell your truth.

Related Posts

This week’s agri events: 27 November-01 December

This week’s agri events: 27 November-01 December

by Sinenhlanhla Mncwango
27th November 2023
0

This week’s agricultural events include two online webinars, Food For Mzansi's Gather To Grow on Instagram Live, a climate-smart farming...

Oletha ushintsho: uThamaga ubuyekeza impumelelo

Oletha ushintsho: uThamaga ubuyekeza impumelelo

by Tiisetso Manoko
2nd November 2023
0

Imenenja ehhovisi likaMengameli neleSikhulu esiPhezulu kwi-African Farmers Association of South Africa (i-AFASA), iklonyelisiwe ngomsebenzi omuhle ewenzayo ekuhlanganiseni imigomo nokukhankasa ukuze...

Free State CASP system: Why fix something that isn't broken?

Free State Casp system: Why fix something that isn’t broken?

by Sinenhlanhla Mncwango
14th September 2023
0

Free State Agriculture (FSA) has called on the MEC of agriculture in the province, Saki Mokoena, to reverse the decision...

Farmer 101: Leading women reflect on their agri journeys

Women inclusion: ‘We have not scratched the surface’

by Ntuthu Mbiko
9th August 2023
0

As Mzansi celebrates Women's Day, Ntuthu Mbiko, a farmer with various leadership and development roles, shares her thoughts on why...

Next Post
A 2021 survey amongst safety representatives of 168 farmers’ associations in the Free State Agriculture found that livestock theft is the biggest crime threat in rural areas. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Stock theft: Education boss busted for stolen cattle

Arendse puts her eggs in many baskets while aiming for the skies
Inspiration

Arendse puts her eggs in many baskets while aiming for the skies

by Vateka Halile
1st December 2023
0

There is no stopping Anecia Arendse who has used childhood memories, tons of passion and acquired knowledge to build her...

Read more
ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

1st December 2023
Food inflation fury grips Mzansi: BFAP sounds alarm

Food inflation fury grips Mzansi: BFAP sounds alarm

1st December 2023
In pictures: Safeguarding indigenous plants for the future

In pictures: Safeguarding indigenous plants for the future

30th November 2023
Food for Mzansi gives voiceless farmers a much-needed voice

Food For Mzansi gives voiceless farmers a much-needed voice

30th November 2023

Vacancy: Marketing assistant at Food For Mzansi Group

Vacancy: Junior journalist at Food For Mzansi Group

2023: A gruelling year that pushed many farmers over the edge

IQ Logistica launches Farmers Friend Enterprise app

Podcast: Shoo, fly shoo! Steps to tackle flies on your farm

Kulathi Primary Co-op drives change in rural EC

RSS From FoodForAfrika.com

  • $2 Million investment in fertiliser financing for Kenyan smallholders
  • AfDB empowers Tanzanian horticulture with $2.5m boost
  • Malagasy scientist wins $150k grant

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 15 global awards in the first four years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

Podcast: How to access fresh produce markets in SA

Food For Mzansi serves as ideal launching pad for farmers

Let this saucy oxtail recipe take you back down memory lane

Arendse puts her eggs in many baskets while aiming for the skies

ChickenFacts calls for new Poultry Master Plan amid trade turmoil

Food inflation fury grips Mzansi: BFAP sounds alarm

  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
Login

Copyright © 2021 Food for Mzansi

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.