Mining magnate and philanthropist Patrice Motsepe bemoaned the democratic government’s mistake of disregarding infrastructure and agricultural projects that had thrived before the dawn of democracy in 1994.
The billionaire said many good agricultural projects in the Transkei and Ciskei had been food baskets.
But because of politics after the advent of democracy, most of those agricultural projects had been destroyed and people were now left starving.
“The problem was that the new government believed that everything that was done by the bantustans was bad. But we are the new leaders, and all those things belong to all of us.
“We should see how we can use that infrastructure for the benefit of everybody. Farming is a very tough business, a difficult business,” he said.
Motsepe was speaking at a meeting to discuss food security with monarchs, commercial and emerging farmers and government officials at the Savoy Hotel in Mthatha on Friday.
He singled out the once thriving Magwa Tea Estate in Lusikisiki as one of the democratic government’s failures.
The provincial government has pumped millions into trying to revive the estate, which once employed hundreds of people pre-1994.
Motsepe said when he visited the tea plantation to bury a comrade in the late 1990s, he was amazed.
“I was told by another comrade from that area that the tea plantation used to be thriving during the time of the Transkei homeland with many job opportunities for people even outside that area.
“But when the new government took over, all became dysfunctional,” he said.
AmaMpondo King Zanozuko Sigcau agreed that the situation at Magwa was heartbreaking.
Motsepe and his wife, Dr Precious-Moloi Motsepe, said they would use the Motsepe Foundation as a vehicle to solicit funds for agri-businesses and projects envisaged for SA’s food security. “We cannot succeed working solo, in corners.
“We need to form sustainable partnerships. Traditional leaders are custodians of the land for the people. They must never be left out on programmes affecting their areas,” Motsepe said.
The meeting was attended by kings and queens or their representatives, AgriSA president Dan Kriek, African Farmers Association of SA president Dr Vuyo Mahlati, National African Farmers Union of SA president Motsepe Matlala, OR Tambo mayor Nomakhosazana Meth, among others.
Motsepe said the government and kings had a pivotal role to play in the partnership with farmers and businesses.
Moloi-Motsepe said: “As the foundation, we are sponsoring children to study agriculture in schools and tertiary institutions because there is a such a big opportunity for them to find work and establish small businesses or as entrepreneurs within the agricultural sector.”
Her husband said people should work together “irrespective of which traditional community you lead as a royal or which which organisation you lead. We must work together for the development of us all.” Eastern Cape monarchs were already working towards reviving subsistence farming and agriculture to turn back poverty and dependency on social grants, and were pleased when the meeting decided agricultural initiatives should be pursued towards these aims.
The foundation has undertaken numerous rural and development projects with traditional leaders, allocating about R200m countrywide.
Motsepe said each kingdom would have its own business plan and development trust, with proposals submitted to the foundation for approval...