The appointment of Super Zuma as the new MEC for agriculture and rural development in KwaZulu-Natal has earned mixed reactions from farmers and other role players in the sector. Farmers in the province told Food For Mzansi that Zuma must follow through on old promises made to them in the past.
Zuma, a former ANC provincial secretary, was recently appointed as the MEC for agriculture in the province, replacing Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi. Sithole-Moloi took over the MEC of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) portfolio.
This follows a reshuffle that necessitated the resignation of former Cogta MEC, Sihle Zikalala, sworn in as a new member of Parliament.
According to young farmer Mazwi Madlala, service delivery should be a high priority for the MEC, following promises that were given to young people in the past.
“Tailored solutions can be executed by the department of agriculture rather than making assumptions of what could work for farmers,” he pointed out.
Zuma needs to hit the ground running
Madlala farms in the Midlands, in the Dargle valley and said Zuma needed to hit the ground running.
“We were at some stage allocated farms, we had gone to a programme in Denmark which led to us being given farms that we could potentially run, so my thinking is that MEC Zuma can come in and assist us in reviving that programme.
“We need the farms to go to the youth. Reviving youth-based programmes that are impactful and giving opportunity, especially to graduates who are willing to work,” he said.
The time of conferences and talking is over, young people want to be on the ground and working the land, Madlala said. “[The] youth are hungry to work, we want to be proactive on the field doing what we are supposed [to be doing].”
How farmers feel about new MEC
A fellow farmer in the province, Lee Hlubi said she welcomed Zuma in his new portfolio and hopes he will engage farmers in the province soon. Other farmers Food For Mzansi spoke with, said the same thing.
“We hope he will be able to resolve the insurmountable challenges we currently face as farmers on the ground. We would greatly appreciate his direct engagement with farmers,” said Hlubi, who is a sugarcane farmer.
Farmer and leader of the African Farmers Association of South Africa (Afasa) in KwaZulu-Natal, Andile Mcoyi, has high hopes that concerns rural farmers face would be prioritised under the new leadership.
She called on MEC Zuma to give youth space and time in his department to ensure food security and job creation.
“Involving youth on the ground will play a significant role in raising awareness and [addressing] issues facing the youth and farmers.
“Therefore tailored solutions can be executed by the department of agriculture rather than making assumptions of what could work for farmers,” she pointed out.
A clear plan is needed
The new political head for agriculture needs to focus on bread-and-butter issues that farmers and agricultural graduates face in the province. This is according to the president of the South African Agricultural Graduates Association (Saaga), Malose Mokgotho.
“Obviously the previous MEC was not productive enough for the province. Saaga expected much from the office in terms of improving youth empowerment and creating permanent solutions to employment in the province, but we witnessed less to nothing,” Mokgotho said.
Saaga who has visited several farms across the province said more work needed to be done.
“Rural farming is still under growth and the implementation of programmes and policies have not been effective and efficient,” he explained.
“We need a clear plan on how the new MEC will be assisting small-scale farmers whom we rely on to take in some of our graduates for onsite learning. However, the department also need to play its role.”
Malose Mokgotho
South African Farmers Development Association (Safda) chairperson, Dr Siyabonga Madlala, said his organisation stands in support of Zuma’s appointment and hopes to meet with the new MEC soon to hear his plans on taking agriculture in the province forward.
“We welcome the announcement of the new MEC, we hope to work together with him given that the sector is faced with many challenges like high input costs, load shedding and many other things that farmers are facing,” he said.
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