NUUS| NEWS
President Cyril Ramaphosa:
“The Nation is in
Conversation”
Senwes proudly sponsored the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA)
agri-business transformation conference, where stakeholders in the agricultural sector
gathered to share experiences and come up with possible workable solutions on how to
bridge the gap between the haves the have nots in the farming industry.
By Kefiloe Manthata
Senwes Graduate
A
mong the key speakers was
President Cyril Ramaphosa
who, while speaking at the
gala dinner, praised AFASA
for being a voice for black farmers since
its inception. He commended the farmers
challenging stereotypes that exist about
black farmers.
“You are dispelling this narrative that
black people can only ever be subsis-
tence farmers. You are giving evidence
that black people are able to make a
success of farming and are also able to
sustain their livelihoods and that of their
workers.”
Speaking as a farmer himself,
Ramaphosa assured them that he under-
From left to right are Mike Mlengana (Deputy Director General Agriculture)
with Pitso Sekhoto (AFASA Free State Chairperson), Motsepe Mohlala
(Former AFASA Chairman), Benedict Modise (Director: Transformation at
NWK) and Julias Ramohlabi (Senwes Manager: Developing Farmers).
stood and related to the problems that
they all face. “It took me three years to
obtain a water licence just to grow maize.
So when you talk, you are talking about
challenges I know and understand fully.”
The president also conceded to being
aware that government needs to do more
to support agricultural progression in the
country. “Agriculture warrants support
from government. In a number of sectors,
government has seen the need to inter-
vene, but in agriculture, we are still on the
back foot and I would like us to step up.”
The president appealed to the farmers
Sifiso Buthelezi, Deputy Minister of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
08
SENWES SCENARIO | SOMER • SUMMER 2018