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Land reform blunder: Farmer defeats government

by Noluthando Ngcakani
20th March 2021
in News
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
Award-winning pig farmer and the minister of agriculture in the Western Cape, Dr Ivan Meyer. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Award-winning pig farmer and the minister of agriculture in the Western Cape, Dr Ivan Meyer. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

“I am looking forward to the next 30 years. This makes me whole (again). Four weeks ago, I was shattered. I was broken into pieces and now I am jumping with joy.”

These are the words of a 56-year-old Western Cape farmer who can breathe a sigh of relief following the news that he could now legally occupy the Colenso farm in Darling in the Western Cape.

SONA: 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 in February. Photo: Supplied/ Food For Mzansi

This after the land reform beneficiary was in February given seven days’ notice to vacate the state-owned farm. He was to be replaced by a youth-led farmers’ group backed by a MK veteran.

In a confidential report seen by Food For Mzansi, the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development finally admitted to its own faults, acknowledging the unfair treatment of Cloete, a pig farmer.

‘It is so overwhelming’

Cloete’s 30-year lease agreement on the Gelukwaarts farm in Piketberg will also now be transferred to Colenso.

An emotional Cloete spoke to Food For Mzansi last night after he received the good news. “I am reading this report over and over and over. I cannot comprehend because it is so overwhelming.”

AFASA’s acting chairperson in the Western Cape, Jefthas. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi
AFASA’s acting chairperson in the Western Cape, Elton Jepthas. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

AFASA’s acting Western Cape chairperson Elton Jepthas welcomed the report issued by Thoko Didiza, the minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development.

“He has been from post to pillar for the last eight to nine years of his life, Jepthas told Food For Mzansi.

“I am very happy for him that he can now be focused and confident that this is the farm where he is going to stay; where he is set to farm alone.”

‘We want to work the land’

Young farmers operating under the Thlapi Zizi banner have come forward to address allegations of political affiliations in their assignment to the Colenso farm in the West Coast. 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 have hit back over allegations that political affiliations influenced their assignment as land reform beneficiaries to the Colenso farm in the West Coast. From the left are Roger Paulus, Bakang Monegi, Pholoso Malatji and Naomi Malatji. Photo: Food For Mzansi

Meanwhile Tlhapi Zizi, the group who was going to replace Cloete, said it would comment at a later stage following the dramatic development.

The youth-owned entity had been bundled up in a political dilemma after DA shadow minister Annette Steyn claimed they had political ties.

Pholoso Malatji, chief operations officer of Tlhapi Zizi, rejected these allegations in an earlier interview with Food For Mzansi.

“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 said.

ALSO READ: Colenso’s ‘new heirs’ hit back in land reform debacle

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

In the Cloete report, government admitted that “it is clear that ever since 2012, Mr Cloete was not treated fairly.”

The report goes on to say, “From the investigation, it is clear that the Colenso farm was to be allocated to Mr Cloete, but senior officials of the department decided to allocate it to yet another person.”

Steyn said this confirms what the DA has always argued; that the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development “has been hijacked by corrupt officials who took it upon themselves to parcel out land to their preferred recipients while trampling on the rights of defenceless citizens who have no friends in high places.”

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

Victory on eve of Human Right’s Day

Western Cape minister of agriculture Dr Ivan Meyer has played an instrumental role in securing farmer Ivan Cloete’s right to farm on Colenso, a state-owned farm. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi
Western Cape minister of agriculture Dr Ivan Meyer has played an instrumental role in securing farmer Ivan Cloete’s right to farm on Colenso, a state-owned farm. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

This morning, Dr Ivan Meyer, the Western Cape minister of agriculture, described Cloete’s victory to Food For Mzansi as “a turning point for land governance in South Africa.”

“The story of Ivan Cloete is a sad story of an injustice and corruption in land reform in South Africa,” he said.

“But now we have victory and justice. He can now celebrate Human Right’s Day on his farm as we have prevented the national government from allocating his farm to an ANC-linked MK veteran.

“This is a victory for all farmers in South Africa. It is a turning point in land governance. Cloete can now sit on his stoep and sing the hashtag #Fortheloveoftheland.”

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Tags: AFASAAnnette SteynColenso farmdepartment of agriculture land reform and rural development (DALRRD)Elton JephtasIvan CloeteLand reformPholoso MalatjiThlapi ZiziThoko Didiza
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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.

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