MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa Leads Oversight Visits to GDARD-Funded Projects in Sedibeng

MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, accompanied by Acting Head of Department Khululekile Mase, conducted oversight visits to several GDARD-funded agricultural projects across the Sedibeng Region yesterday afternoon. The visits formed part of the department’s ongoing commitment to assess the progress and impact of its funded initiatives.

MEC Ramokgopa said the goal was to ensure that projects deliver measurable benefits to communities. “Our goal is to deliver and assess our impact,” she said, urging officials to use the opportunity to speak openly, raise challenges, and strengthen collaboration toward better service delivery.

The day began at the GDARD Regional Office in Vereeniging, where the team received a detailed briefing before heading into the field.

The first stop was the Lydia Kgoenya Poultry Project in Mfuleni. The project, supported through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), has received infrastructure development, boreholes, and production inputs. The initiative plays a vital role in creating employment and ensuring local food security.

Next, the delegation visited De Deur Primary School in Midvaal. Through the Ilima/Letsema Programme and the Presidential Employment Programme, GDARD has supplied the school with essential tools and seeds to strengthen its food production and school nutrition efforts. The project helps learners understand basic agricultural principles while improving food availability within the school environment.

The final visit was to Thahameso General Trading in Meyerton, a livestock enterprise owned by Mama Sophy Mofokeng. Thahameso receives ongoing advisory support, animal handling guidance, and feed assistance from GDARD’s extension services. The project’s success has become a model of community-driven agribusiness. It supplies Sky City with Grade A meat while offering training and education to community members about meat quality and safety.

Mama Mofokeng shared how the family-run operation continues to grow, now hosting six students from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) for hands-on training. The MEC and her delegation were taken on a tour of the facility, where they observed operations and interacted with the team behind the enterprise’s success.

Each site visit reflected GDARD’s dedication to accountability, empowerment, and inclusive growth in Gauteng’s agricultural sector. By supporting local farmers and community projects, the department continues to drive sustainable rural development and economic resilience in the province.