The South African Farmers’ Development Association has announced a restructuring of its leadership as allegations of criminality against the organisation remain unresolved.
By Lloyd Phillips, senior journalist at African Farming and Landhouweekblad
Dr Siyabonga Madlala, who has served as the executive chairperson of the South African Farmers’ Development Association (SAFDA) since 2017, will reportedly transition to the role of chairperson only.
In a statement, SAFDA announced that at a special meeting of its central executive committee (CEC) on Thursday, 2 July, Madlala proposed separating the combined executive chairperson role into two positions: chairperson and chief executive officer.
According to the statement, the move is intended to “foster good governance, uphold accountability, ensure longevity and catapult the organisation into the next decade of growth.
“The CEC engaged in robust discussions on the proposal and agreed to embark on a constitutional process to give effect to the resolution.”
The CEC has appointed Anwhar Madhanpall, SAFDA’s head of development finance, and Sfiso Mnguni, the association’s head of grower affairs, as joint acting chief executive officers until a permanent chief executive officer is appointed.
The statement added that the CEC has also supported engaging with the Izwi Labantu Forum (ILF) “on matters of contention in order to build relationships, resolve differences and jointly champion the black farmer support agenda”.
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Criminal case confirmed
As previously reported by African Farming, the ILF recently sent shockwaves through South Africa’s sugarcane industry and the wider agricultural sector by publicly accusing several prominent individuals, including Madlala, of a range of alleged criminal offences linked mainly to SAFDA’s operations and finances.
SAFDA was registered as a non-profit organisation in November 2015 to serve as the advocacy voice and developmental engine for small-scale, emerging and land-reform black farmers. Although it has expanded its reach, its primary focus remains the transformation of South Africa’s sugar industry.
On 11 June, Norma Mbatha, executive chairperson of the ILF, deposed to and filed an affidavit at the Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria, formally opening a criminal case alleging corruption, fraud, money laundering, defeating the ends of justice, and the misappropriation of public and donor funds. The financial allegations involve hundreds of millions of rands.
The South African Police Service confirmed that the case has been opened.
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High-profile names mentioned
Those named in the affidavit in connection with the allegations are:
- Dr Siyabonga Madlala;
- Mduduzi Dube, SAFDA’s chief financial officer, who has reportedly since resigned;
- Nhlanhla Mndaweni, chief director of KwaZulu-Natal provincial operations in the national Department of Rural Development and Land Reform;
- Thoko Didiza, Speaker of Parliament and former Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development;
- Zibusiso Dlamini, former head of department in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development;
- Mduduzi Mbada, head of the Office of the Deputy President;
- Mooketsa Ramasodi, director-general of the national Department of Agriculture; and
- Nonceba Mhlauli, Deputy Minister in the Presidency.
In her affidavit, Mbatha also referred to other unnamed government officials, politicians, businesspeople, relatives and alleged fronting entities.
SAFDA strongly rejected what it described as the ILF’s “malicious and unfounded allegations” and referred to the forum as an “obscure outfit”.
African Farming’s attempts at the time to obtain comment from the other individuals named in the affidavit, or their representatives, were unsuccessful.
Mbatha was not immediately available to comment on SAFDA’s leadership changes or the association’s stated intention to engage with the ILF. Her response will be reported once it becomes available.
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