By Maphuti Mangotane
“Our province has big dreams. But dreams alone are not enough – we must resource them, finance them and build the enabling infrastructure to make them happen.” This was the powerful and inspiring message Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, Gauteng’s MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, delivered in a stirring keynote address at the Gauteng Agro-Processing Convention and Expo at the Gallager Convention Centre in Midrand this past week. She captured a bold, strategic commitment to transforming the province into Africa’s leading agro-processing and manufacturing hub.
Speaking to an audience of policy influencers, diplomatic representatives, industry leaders, academic experts and grassroots cooperatives, Ramokgopa laid out a roadmap for inclusive, resilient and world-class economic growth.
After a warm welcome, the MEC set the tone by acknowledging the presence of diplomatic representatives from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, as well as trailblazing companies, including Harvest Group, a continental leader in agricultural packaging and logistics, who had gathered to build meaningful partnerships in the province.
‘We are building a resilient, industrialised and inclusive economy that does not only reflect on the past but boldly moves us forward,” the MEC emphasised. She called on the audience to recognise the unique moment of opportunity for Gauteng to not only serve South Africa, but to emerge as a continental and global powerhouse in agro-processing.
An Unstoppable Provincial Momentum
The MEC reminded the audience that Gauteng’s agricultural processing sector already contributes more than 78% of the national agricultural economy, making it the largest contributor in Africa. Yet despite this, too many local producers remain locked out of global opportunities due to underutilised infrastructure, lack of certification and a fragmented support system.
She outlined an ambitious strategy to change that reality into one that integrates small township-based cooperatives with global corporations, creating one cohesive, powerful value chain.
A flagship element of this strategy is the R100 million blended finance facility launching from the 2025/2026 financial year. This facility will blend grants and loans to help township-based and cooperative processors gain affordable, inclusive access to finance, breaking down one of the biggest barriers to industrial growth.
Why Agro-Processing Matters
The MEC highlighted that agro-processing is not simply about adding value to agricultural produce; it is about building an industrial base that supports job creation, boosts food security and encourages innovation.
She illustrated this with the inspirational story of a small Gauteng-based producer who partnered with Simply One, a food innovation company, to win first prize at the prestigious UK National Party Show, beating established competitors from around the world with products grown and harvested right here in the province.
“That is what we are capable of,” she said with pride. “Our products can stand proudly on the world stage because they are world-class, they are competitive and they tell the story of our people’s talent and hard work.”
Building an Inclusive Value Chain
The MEC spoke passionately about the need to integrate township cooperatives, emerging farmers, established producers and multinational corporations into a single ecosystem, with an emphasis on fair and inclusive growth.
She also called for stronger partnerships between government, academic institutions and industry players to create a well-coordinated support framework instead of a scatter of isolated efforts.
“We must transform our fragmented initiatives into structured, collaborative partnerships,” she explained. “From ambitious policy to practical execution, we need to move together with one purpose, one strategy.”
Investing in Innovation and Infrastructure
For Gauteng to lead Africa’s agro-processing growth, the MEC stressed that the province must invest boldly in:
- modern certification systems to meet global food standards
- localised, distributed processing infrastructure
- high-tech market access platforms
- a robust monitoring and evaluation system to track impact
She challenged everyone present to remember that “what doesn’t get measured, doesn’t change.” Monitoring results transparently will be critical to ensuring investments truly deliver benefits to small and emerging players.
The MEC announced plans to leverage South Africa’s role as a host of the G20 in the coming year to position Gauteng as the gateway to African food trade.
“We cannot wait to be invited to the table of innovation and trade,” she declared. “We will build our own table, with our own people, connected confidently to global ambition.”
A Call to Action
With determination and a clear sense of urgency, the MEC invited development partners, retailers, processors, finance institutions, cooperatives and academic experts to take part in building what she called “an unstoppable Gauteng agro-processing revolution”.
She closed with a powerful reminder that the province’s agricultural story is no longer about potential; it is about transformation, scale and resilience.
“We are not emerging,” she concluded, “we are essential – essential to transforming our continent, to driving industrial growth, and to ensuring every farmer, every processor, every retailer and every consumer sees themselves in our shared vision.”
