The African Farmers Association of South Africa (Afasa) has appointed Molefe Mahape as its new chairperson. The announcement was made by the president of the organisation, AJ Mthembu, who emphasised that Mahape’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the nation’s elections.
“The appointment of Mahape comes at a critical time when the country is implementing the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) and issuing title deeds to the beneficiaries of land reform in South Africa,” Mthembu said.
New leadership announced
According to Mthembu, Mahape has extensive experience in leadership roles, particularly within the education sector. He started his career as a teacher and later advanced to positions such as principal, rector of a college of education, and director of institution of education at North West University.
“Agriculture is a familiar field to Mr. Mahape, having grown up in a rural agricultural household in Fafung village. He is an experienced farmer and a founding member of Afasa, farming goats and lucerne in the small agricultural town of Brits in the North West province.
“The organisation therefore needs someone of Mr. Mahape’s background and experience to ensure that the views of ordinary farmers are heard and that the implementation of the AAMP is carried out with precision,” he said.
Mthembu added that Mahape will be critical in ensuring that title deeds are issued to farmers without prejudice. He said the new chairperson will receive much-needed support from the entire organisation to ensure he executes his duties.
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