PAUL MASHATILE | SA’s agriculture transformation is on the right path

Our recent visit to Bethlehem in the Free State to engage with commercial farmers, union representatives and the farming community has confirmed the correctness of our policies and the impact on our communities.

I was accompanied to the Remmoho Agricultural Farm by agriculture minister John Steenhuisen, land reform and rural development minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, Free State premier MacQueen Letsoha-Mathae and district and local mayors. This was a clear demonstration of the unity in action of the government of national unity (GNU) towards transforming agriculture in South Africa.

This visit bears testament to a successful public-private partnership model in which farmers, their BEE Partners, farm workers and the three tiers of Dihlabeng municipality, Thabo Mofutsanyana district, Free State province, and national governments collaborate to place agriculture at the centre of our solutions to the socioeconomic challenges of poverty, unemployment and equality.

We specifically undertook the visit to coincide with Harvest Day, thereby celebrating together the significant milestones in agricultural development and to demonstrate government’s commitment to growing an inclusive agricultural sector while creating job opportunities.

On arrival, we embarked on a tour to the Maluti Apple Packhouse and the Stead Apple Farm, which are important contributors to the government’s vision enshrined in the Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan of growing an inclusive agricultural sector. We also bore witness to the considerable progress made in the appleproduction and agro-processing project, which includes driving transformation in the apple and other fruit-growing commodity industries.

The demand for apple juice concentrate presents numerous opportunities for localisation, the creation of employment opportunities, and the broadening of industry value chains. We were pleased to witness transformation in practice, in the form of a successful partnership of Pitso Sekhoto and Kobus du Preez of Remmoho Agriculture Farm.

The farm has contributed in no small measure to growth in agricultural production not only in the Free State province but also throughout the country. According to recent data from Stats SA, the country's agricultural sector experienced a significant rebound in the fourth quarter of 2024, contributing positively to overall GDP growth, with the industry showing a substantial increase in production of field crops and animal products. This is a significant driver for the economy's modest recovery in 2025, a positive development highlighted in Stats SA's latest reports on the agricultural sector.

As shown in the report and reflected upon by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his weekly newsletter, the agriculture industry continues to contribute to the economy by generating jobs and income as well as supporting related businesses, including food processing, transportation and retail. One of the most important aspects that has contributed to the development of the agricultural industry in South Africa has been the use of commercial farming practices, which have resulted in better production and efficiency. In addition, the government has adopted other efforts to promote the industry, including land reform programmes, subsidies, and infrastructure development.

Despite some challenges, our interventions have placed South Africa’s agricultural sector on the right path of success.

South Africa remains a net agricultural exporter, ranking in the top 10 global exporters of citrus, table grapes, maize and wool and a significant exporter of apples, as demonstrated by the Remmoho Farm. The agriculture industry employs more than 800,000 people, making it an important contribution to the country's labour force.

As expected, our visit also brought to the fore current debates regarding our land reform laws and policies, particularly the recently signed Expropriation Act. In this regard, it is important to note that the Expropriation Bill repeals the pre-democratic Expropriation Act of 1975 and sets out how organs of state may expropriate land in the public interest for varied reasons.

Section 25 of the constitution for instance allows the state to expropriate property for a public purpose or in the public interest with appropriate and equitable compensation.

Significantly, this new act has checks and balances, including a clause that states that an agreement must be reached before the state decides to expropriate. This includes the right to object to the intention to expropriate.

As the GNU, we will proceed with the necessary caution, guided by the laws and policies of the country. We will also continue to provide support through a combination of payments and other aids to the agriculture sector, as well as supporting small-scale farmers and integrating them into the economy, as has been done in Bethlehem, Free State and in other areas.

Our commitment as government lies in growing an agricultural sector that benefits everyone equally. We are on the right path.

• Mashatile is the deputy president of South Africa