KZN MEC Kamadlopha-Mthethwa Pledges to Revive Agriculture in Zululand

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, has committed to revitalising agriculture across the Zululand District. The announcement was made during the “Taking Legislature To the People” programme, held yesterday at Cecil Emmet Hall in Vryheid under AbaQulusi Local Municipality.

The programme follows Multi-Party Oversight Visits to Zululand municipalities in July and provides communities with an opportunity to raise service delivery concerns directly to government leaders. It forms part of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s accountability initiatives, aimed at strengthening democracy by allowing citizens to engage with elected officials.

Residents from five municipalities—Nongoma, uLundi, uPhongolo, AbaQulusi, and eDumbe—raised issues including poor road infrastructure, unemployment, crime, and the decline of agriculture, which many previously relied on for livelihoods. Community feedback highlighted gaps such as the lack of abattoirs, dams, production inputs, poorly resourced farms, limited mechanisation, and rising cases of stock theft.

Addressing the attendees, MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa reassured farmers that all dipping tanks in the district had been stocked with sufficient chemicals. She noted that two new dipping tanks have been installed in uLundi, with AbaQulusi scheduled to receive additional tanks soon.

“We are revitalising our efforts to encourage communities to engage in agriculture and to revive collapsing projects by providing fencing, mechanisation, and production inputs,” said kaMadlopha-Mthethwa. She urged local farmers to treat agriculture as a business and to register their livestock and agricultural produce with the department to qualify for support.

The MEC further emphasised adherence to animal movement controls to contain Foot-and-Mouth Disease, which continues to affect certain areas of the province.

The programme underscored the department’s commitment to restoring agriculture in Zululand, supporting farmers with resources, infrastructure, and guidance to rebuild sustainable agricultural enterprises and improve rural livelihoods.