Jap Cape Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe tabled the 2024/25 annual report of the Division of Agriculture on the provincial legislature in Bhisho, highlighting main achievements in job creation, monetary accountability, and meals safety.
Photograph: Provided
Kontsiwe instructed Farmer’s Weekly that the division achieved 99% of its deliberate targets through the 12 months underneath overview. “It is a clear reflection of our dedication to enhancing agricultural productiveness and rural livelihoods. Our interventions reached over 70 000 households, strengthening family meals safety and resilience,” she stated.
She defined that the previous Division of Rural Improvement and Agrarian Reform had transitioned to the Division of Agriculture, marking a renewed deal with agriculture as a key driver of financial progress and rural improvement within the province.
Kontsiwe introduced that the division achieved a clear audit for the 2024/25 monetary 12 months. “This displays our unwavering dedication to transparency, sound governance, and accountability within the administration of public sources,” she stated.
She added that an audit intervention plan, monitored quarterly by the audit committee, was serving to to strengthen monetary controls and guarantee accountability throughout the division.
Agriculture creating employment alternatives
In keeping with the Statistics South Africa Labour Pressure Survey for the second quarter of 2025, the Jap Cape recorded 89 000 new jobs, with the second-highest improve amongst all provinces. The agriculture sector contributed 21 000 of those jobs.
“The agriculture sector continues to reveal its capability to drive employment and rework rural economies,” Kontsiwe stated.
Though the province’s unemployment fee rose barely from 39,3% to 39,5%, Kontsiwe stated the general outlook remained optimistic.
“This example requires intensified structural reforms and focused funding to unlock agriculture’s full potential as a supply of sustainable livelihoods,” she stated.
Combatting meals insecurity
The MEC stated the division’s work was guided by the Structure’s Part 27(1)(b), which ensures each citizen the correct to enough meals and water. Citing the Human Sciences Analysis Council, she famous that 73% of households within the Jap Cape confronted some extent of meals insecurity, with 20% severely affected, significantly within the Alfred Nzo and Sarah Baartman districts.
“In response, we carried out daring and focused programmes to strengthen meals manufacturing and livelihoods,” she stated.
Key interventions included supporting 30 163 households via the Ilima/Letsema programme and 12 000 households underneath the Presidential Employment Stimulus, establishing 27 Sensible Agriculture Tunnels for youth and ladies farmers, and finishing 10 spring-water initiatives that benefitted practically 2 000 households and created 500 jobs.
Boosting manufacturing and illness management
To strengthen livestock and crop manufacturing, the division distributed 60 000 broiler chicks, planted 22 712ha to maize, and vaccinated 1,3 million animals. A complete of 8,7 million sheep had been handled for scab, 3,4 million had been dipped for parasite management, and 4 825 veterinary export certificates had been issued.
Kontsiwe talked about companions similar to Agri Jap Cape, the Milk Producers’ Organisation, and the Nationwide Wool Growers’ Affiliation for his or her co-operation through the April 2024 foot-and-mouth illness outbreak, which brought about an estimated R2,5 billion loss to the province.
“To guard the trade and markets, swift motion was taken via Illness Administration Areas and strict motion controls,” she stated.
Strategic partnerships and diversification
Kontsiwe stated it was essential to proceed strengthening strategic partnerships and diversify agricultural worth chains. Collaboration with the World Financial institution helped advance fisheries improvement, whereas partnerships with Medigrow and the Agricultural Analysis Council promoted hemp and hashish manufacturing.
“We carried out a blended finance mannequin that unlocked R7,5 million for pineapple farms, creating 368 jobs,” she stated.
The division additionally carried out 125 infrastructure initiatives throughout commodities, together with horticulture, grain, crimson meat, poultry, piggery, aquaculture, and wool and mohair. These initiatives created 573 jobs, rehabilitated 9 440ha of land, and generated 471 inexperienced jobs.
Oversight and help to the ECRDA
The MEC additionally addressed the efficiency of the Jap Cape Rural Improvement Company (ECRDA), which acquired a certified audit final result for the interval. She stated the newly appointed board had dedicated to implementing an audit enchancment plan to resolve excellent points.
“The division will present the required help and oversight to make sure the ECRDA is stabilised and repositioned to ship on its mandate of financing inclusive agricultural improvement,” Kontsiwe stated.
Chatting with Farmer’s Weekly, Simpiwe Somdyala, CEO of the ECRDA, acknowledged the 2024/25 certified audit final result and stated decisive motion had since been taken to strengthen its monetary administration programs via a complete audit enchancment plan.
Underneath the steerage of the newly appointed board of administrators and with the complete oversight of the division, the plan straight addresses the foundation causes of the certified audit final result and introduces long-term measures to boost accountability, transparency, and governance.
“This plan is not only about compliance. It’s about restoring confidence within the company’s programs and guaranteeing that public funds are managed responsibly and successfully for the good thing about the individuals of the Jap Cape,” Somdyala stated.
