DA calls on Minister Didiza to grant leases to Mpumalanga Farmers as promised three months ago

13 August 2021

The DA calls on Thoko Didiza, the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, to put her money where her mouth is and immediately provide Mpumalanga farmers facing evictions with their long overdue lease agreements. 

In April, the Minister met with the affected farmers and promised that the evections will be withdrawn and that her department would assist those whose leases had not been finalised.

It has now been three months, and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) still has not provided any leases to these successful, emerging farmers.

Clearly, the Minister's journey to Mpumalanga had nothing to do with addressing the concerns and plight of farmers, but it was rather a public relations exercise designed to place the Minister in the spotlight in response to pressure from the DA and other stakeholders.

Because they still don't have proof of valid lease agreements, many of these farmers risk losing funding and contracts.

Across the country, the plight of farmers who are being evicted from their farms or forced to move around different farms with no security of tenure is still ongoing as a result of Minister Didiza’s failure to address concerns regarding the State’s alleged non-compliance with lease agreements, corruption within the DALRRD, and alleged third-party interference. 

This demonstrates how the ANC does not want emerging farmers to be the true owners of the land, but instead wants them to be lifelong tenants beholden to the governing party.

On Wednesday, 18 August 2021, the DA will unpack all these issues during our virtual Land Summit.

The DA believes that anyone who wants to farm and work the land should receive the support they need to be successful. They must be given skills and access to the resources they need.

Issued by Annette Steyn, DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, 13 August 2021