Farmer and activist Norma Mbatha
Image: supplied
Tensions between the Izwi Labantu Forum and Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Bianca Mhlauli have escalated after the organisation accused government of failing to respond to the concerns of black emerging farmers more than three months after a march to the Union Buildings.
The dispute erupted following a heated exchange between ILF executive chairperson Norma Mbatha and Mhlauli over the progress made on a memorandum containing 14 demands submitted by black farmers in January.
The memorandum was handed over during a march organised by ILF alongside the South African Communist Party and several organisations representing black farmers and rural communities. The protest called for urgent government intervention to address challenges including land access, agricultural support, funding delays, and what the group described as the continued marginalisation of black farmers.
In a statement released last week Thursday, ILF accused Mhlauli of failing to honour commitments made to farmers during the march. The organisation also criticised what it described as disrespectful conduct towards Mbatha during their recent interaction.
ILF spokesperson and Gauteng leader Melissa Davids said the organisation was deeply disappointed by the Deputy Minister’s handling of the matter.
“We are disturbed by the conduct displayed towards our executive chairperson Norma Mbatha,” Davids said. “Instead of focusing on the serious concerns raised by black farmers, the Deputy Minister resorted to personal remarks and accused Ms Mbatha of seeking attention without explaining what she meant.”
Davids said the organisation believed the comments were inappropriate and distracted from the real issues facing farming communities.
According to ILF, Mhlauli had assured protesters at the Union Buildings that the Presidency would oversee the resolution of the demands submitted by black farmers. However, the organisation claimed there had been little progress since then.
“More than three months later, we have only seen delays, excuses, and engagements that have produced no meaningful outcomes,” Davids said. “The farmers who marched in good faith are still waiting for action.”
Mbatha has also accused government departments of failing to adequately support black farmers despite repeated promises of transformation in the agricultural sector. She said millions of rand intended for agricultural development had reportedly been returned to the National Treasury while many rural communities continued to struggle without basic resources.
“Black farmers are still unable to access fencing, tractors, seeds, and other forms of support needed to sustain their operations,” Mbatha said.
She further criticised what she described as unequal treatment within government, claiming that pressure appeared to be directed mainly at Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso while Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen had faced little accountability.
Questions have been sent to the minister, but there was no response at the time of print.