By Lebogang Mashala
Cynthia Matome Mokgobu, a well-known young smallholder potato and vegetable farmer near Bochum (Senwabarwana) in the Blouberg Municipality of Limpopo, is facing one of the biggest challenges of her farming career. Some community members are obstructing her efforts to expand her production on land allocated to her in her village of Gemarke.
Mokgobu describes these individuals as self-appointed leaders and their followers. She says they anti-development and trying to intimidate young farmers like herself. “I’m tired of keeping quiet and being violated. I’m slowly drowning in depression. I’ve been to court twice already, and both times the cases were postponed while I wait for a third hearing. My project is being delayed,” Mokgobu lamented.She explained that a ward committee member, along with a self-appointed leader (induna) and their associates, have banded together to prevent her from utilising the land that has already been allocated to her. “What hurts the most is that no one is willing to listen to my story or help resolve the issue. They say I should simply pay a fine and move on, but the underlying problem would still exist. What fine, and to whom should I pay it? Is farming a crime?”
Mokgobu noted the main issue stems from some community members having personal grievances with her father, which have nothing to do with her, making her an easier target. According to her, the farm was allocated to her by the local tribal authority, of which her father was a part. She explained the members came to measure the land and only needed the chief’s signature to finalise the allocation. However, after her father was voted out of the tribal committee, everything changed.
Mokgobu expressed that the chief has changed his stance and will not sign the permission to occupy (PTO). “During a community meeting (kgothekgothe), one of the leaders (induna) shared information about upcoming developments in our village. The first project is a hardware store by Pakistani investors, and the second is a proposed shopping centre by someone from outside the village. My proposal to develop the land and expand my business was rejected, despite being born and raised in this village,” Mokgobu explained.
“My message to young black entrepreneurs and emerging farmers is to mobilise and stand up against discrimination and jealousy from the chief and the committee. We are being undermined, discriminated against and denied opportunities simply because of who our parents are.”
Caption (videos)A member of the ward committee and a self-appointed induna are currently blocking Cynthia’s farm expansion and development. They have obstructed the TLB machine that is assisting with the debushing and the truck delivering building materials. Videos: Supplied
