By Lebogang Mashala
Last week, I had the opportunity to spend time at Nampo, and it was refreshing to be among the people who keep this country running and ensure self-sufficiency, particularly regarding food security. This includes farmers, input suppliers, financiers, innovators and everyone involved in the agricultural value chain.
Nampo 2025 was a truly special occasion that highlighted the greatness of this country, especially in light of the current political climate, where some outsiders claim that South Africa is experiencing a white farmer genocide. Various panel discussions at Nampo 2025, led by prominent agricultural and political leaders, helped to dispel that myth. Anyone who attended Nampo 2025 or followed the event would likely agree that over 80 000 attendees, the majority being white, enjoyed the show thoroughly.
There has been a lot happening this week, and African Farming has made an effort to cover these events to provide comprehensive reporting. This includes the visit to the Oval Office by a South African delegation led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as the budget speech, which was a few months late, but we can finally move forward from that. I believe the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, represented both the country and the industry very well during the meeting with American President Donald Trump, despite facing challenges from their counterparts. I wholeheartedly agree with the Minister’s sentiment: “We all want a country that works for all of us.”
Despite the ongoing challenges, I am optimistic about the farmers in this country; they remain upbeat and are not discouraged by current circumstances. We are all looking forward to the end of the harvesting season, which has also been challenging due to high rainfall in many areas late in the season. Wishing all the best to those currently harvesting.
However, I would like to highlight a concerning incident involving one of our promising young farmers, Cynthia Matome Mokgobu. Cynthia grows potatoes and vegetables on communal land in Gemarke village, near Bochum, Limpopo. She recently shared several videos showing community members obstructing her efforts to develop her farm.
Mokgobu expressed she is facing one of the biggest challenges of her farming career, as some community members are obstructing her plans to expand her production on the land allocated to her in Gemarke. She claims a ward committee member, along with a self-appointed leader (induna) and their associates, are collaborating to prevent her from using the land.
Communal land represents a significant opportunity for agricultural development. We have access to millions of hectares of high-potential land. However, due to a lack of development, infrastructure, and primarily governance, our rural communal areas remain chaotic. Unfortunately, what Cynthia is experiencing is a common struggle for many South Africans who are striving to improve their lives and those of their fellow villagers. Those entrusted with communal land are abusing their power, which results in missed opportunities for growth.
Following the Constitutional Court’s ruling in 2010, which deemed the Communal Land Rights Act (CLaRA) unconstitutional, the issue of land tenure insecurity persists in South Africa. To this day, there is no comprehensive legislation that guarantees secure land rights for rural people, particularly those living in the former Bantustans. The lack of legal clarity surrounding land ownership continues to pose challenges for millions of South Africans.
The government has yet to replace the Communal Land Rights Act (CLaRA) with a new law that ensures secure land tenure for all. This situation has left rural communities in limbo, awaiting legislation that will protect their rights and provide the legal security necessary for them to invest in their land and improve their lives.
Before I forget, I want to congratulate Amajita, the South African National Under-20 team, for winning the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after defeating Morocco this past weekend. Julle lekker ding!
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