New Mpumalanga MEC gets 2 weeks to deliver produce market

In an unprecedented provincial cabinet reshuffle, Mpumalanga premier Mandla Ndlovu has appointed a new MEC for agriculture, rural development and environment. Khethiwe Moeketsi is replacing Nompumelelo Hlophe, who moved to social development after a year in agriculture.

Ndlovu has given the new MEC two weeks to ensure operations of the embattled Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market, which has cost taxpayers over R2 billion since its construction 10 years ago.

“The immediate task is to ensure a successful operation of the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market. The MEC will need to pay special attention to ensuring that the market starts operating. We have said it should be operational by the end of this month.

“The MEC will have to ensure that, as the provincial government, we maximise primary production by making sure that small-scale, subsistence and commercial farmers are supported through access to land and infrastructure, which will enable them to grow rural economies. This means supporting agri hubs and cooperatives,” Ndlovu said.

A tight deadline

He said the tasks communicated to Moeketsi and the entire public are to ensure transparency and reshape Mpumalanga as a province that can produce food.

Ndlovu explained that his cabinet reshuffle was aimed at aligning with the province’s apex priorities of driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical and developmental state.

The fresh produce market was handed over to the provincial government last September following years of delays. At the time, farmers in the province were excited that the market would soon be operating; however, 10 months later, nothing has happened.

Meanwhile, an employee of the department of agriculture in Mpumalanga, who did not want to be named and has been close to the developments of the fresh produce market, said two weeks is unrealistic considering the time needed to finish up the project.

“The MEC will only be meeting with the team in the coming days, getting to know how the department works, and doing a meet-and-greet with all staff members. We understand the pressure that government is facing to ensure that this market operates as soon as possible, but two weeks is far-fetched,” the employee said.

The employee added that it is not clear when exactly the market will be fully operational for farmers to access it.

‘Farmers want action, not politics’

Andrew Mashiloane, a crop farmer based in Hazyview in Mpumalanga, said he hopes the new MEC is going to bring changes.

“It has only been a year since the previous MEC was appointed, and the farmers were only trying to understand her way of operations. A year in office is really difficult to measure the performance of the person, especially at the provincial level.

“We hope the new MEC will unlock agricultural opportunities for all farmers. Projects that have been hanging for years, I think, should be the priority to get those projects up and running again. Farmers just want to see a government that is working for them, nothing else,” he said.

Mashiloane noted that farmers are less interested in politics, but rather in action-oriented public servants who will help farmers battle challenges, such as climate change, biosecurity, access to markets, and land.

“We applaud the premier for making the targets of the MEC public. We are actually in a better place to assess if the MEC and the department are reaching those targets or what. The province is rich, it just needs leaders who will move it a step closer to greater heights,” he said.