Free State MEC Elzabe Rockman Engages Commonage Farmers in Xhariep District

On Saturday, the Free State MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs, Ms. Elzabe Rockman, met with commonage farmers in the Xhariep District to address ongoing challenges facing the sector. The engagement took place at the Koffiefontein Multi-Purpose Community Centre within the Letsemeng Local Municipality. MEC Rockman was joined by the Mayor of Letsemeng Local Municipality, Executive Mayor Cllr. Bonolo Mocwaledi, the Speaker of the Municipality, Cllr. Xolani Mthukwane, councilors, and the Head of Department for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Tshepo Mabilo.

Mr. Mabilo opened the session by explaining the purpose of the engagement. The initiative aims to create a platform where commonage farmers, local government, and relevant stakeholders can share experiences, discuss challenges, and identify solutions to ensure sustainable management of commonages in the Free State. He emphasized that the government is committed to enabling farming communities to participate fully in the agricultural economy, which plays a vital role in the province’s overall economic development.

More than 200 commonage farmers attended the session, including mixed farmers, councilors, women and youth involved in agriculture, and departmental officials. The participants used the platform to raise a range of concerns, highlight successes, and discuss failures in their farming operations. Key issues included youth funding and capacity building, vandalized fish projects, the need to utilize available Public Works land, water rights and provision, lease contract challenges, historical debt cancellation, fencing, title deeds, and requests to plant cannabis and hemp. Farmers also emphasized the need to support auctions to reduce transport costs.

MEC Rockman, with the support of Mayor Mocwaledi and HOD Mabilo, addressed each concern. Immediate issues were resolved on the spot, while matters requiring further analysis were documented for follow-up engagements. The session reinforced the department’s commitment to supporting commonage farmers and ensuring that they have the resources, guidance, and platforms necessary to thrive within the agricultural sector.