On Friday 17 October 2025 the Honourable Agriculture and Rural Development MEC TP kaMadlopha Mthethwa and Honourable Social Development MEC MC Shinga visited the Alfred Duma Local Municipality’s Watersmeet Valjas Sports Ground in ward 18 under the leadership of Cllr S Msimango. The main purpose of the visit was to host the 2025 World Food Day Commemoration.
The delegation visited a 65 hectors Gcabhane farm in Watersmeet owned by 65 community members where the department donated with ploughing seeds and tractor services. They also visited 2 households (family id Zwane and Masengemi) at Gcabhane area where departments donated 12 chicks and seeds to each household. The department also donated food parcels to 50 households, 10 seeds and fertilizers packs.
In attendance were, Mayor of Alfred Duma Local Municipality Cllr ZJ Sibisi, Councillors, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Officials, Social Development officials, Amakhosi, Izinduna, SAPS,SASSA, ADA, Department of Health, Driefontein Cluster Community members.
In his welcoming remarks, the Mayor, Cllr ZJ Sibisi commended both departments for affording the municipality a remarkable opportunity to host such event in commemoration of food safety he also emphasized his gratitude for having a number of service delivery programs towards assisting the community across 37 wards in the municipality which were funded by the Department of Agriculture which includes provision of ploughing materials, fencing materials, fertilizers, weed sprayers, water tanks, seeds and chicks. He also advised community members to establish cooperatives through their ward councillors and encouraged having healthy food produce programs as part of combating poverty. In an effort to ensure that we meet the community nedds which is service delivery, the mayor made a plea to the departments, due to budget constrains the municipality is facing a challenge with regards to ploughing tractors, planting materials. I would be in good interest if the departments can assist with 6 ploughing tractors that will enable us to plough for the community.
Messages of support: Inkosi N Khumalo from Mantungakholwa commended both departments for considering Driefontein Cluster as the host of the food world day commemoration program and encouraged community members to make use of farming and consider farming as tool of combating poverty.
Honourable Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Honourable TP kaMadlopha Mthethwa in her address emphasised collaboration of departments towards rendering service delivery to the community. As part of promoting self-help and self-reliance strategy both departments emphasized farming within communities which starts with one home one garden program further to that churches must also have gardens. These gardens must be registered with the Agriculture and Rural Development department. She also encouraged livestock owners to protect their livestock and farms. The department assist communities under the theme “Phuz’uphume ” and “Keeping KwaZulu Natal green”.
Honourable MEC Social Development Ms MC Shinga in her address mentioned that food is a right “Hand in Hand for better food and better future” she commended the Agriculture and Rural Development department for hosting such critical event to uplift communities. She encouraged community members to consider social development department on various issues. Cooperatives were provided with equipment and the department also form part of growing youth men in particular.
Women who are grant beneficiaries have considered established cooperatives and they are granted assistance from the Social Development department. In an effort to show support to these community cooperatives, we encourage SASSA department to procure school uniforms from local cooperatives.
Issued by
Alfred Duma Local Municipality Communication and IGR Section: Enquiries contact Acting Manager Ms TN Mkhize: 0725799544