The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) MEC, Khethiwe Moeketsi on the 29th January 2026 handed over a state of the art Combine Haverster that will benefit the Dr JS Moroka Municipality grain producers in the Nkangala District.
This was followed by the on-farm intervention visit to disaster stricken farmers to deliver farming implements including seeds, seedlings, compost, fertiliser and jojo tanks for Moilathlala Primary Cooperative, Kgopelang Primary Cooperative and Diphofa Vegetable Project in the municipality.
Addressing the farmers MEC Moeketsi encouraged them to work together and look after the Combine Harvester that will benefit each one of them to continue producing food.
She further explained that the farmers needed to continue working while waiting for the National Disaster Management intervention to be finalised. The MEC was accompanied by the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Safety who was standing in for the mayor, local councillors and Bakgatla Ba Mochia Chairperson, Moepi Mmutie Aaron.
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The Combine Harvester is an essential and complex machine designed for efficient harvesting of mass quantities of grain which cannot be done by hand. It combines three essential harvest functions – reaping, threshing and winnowing.
Grains such as corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, rye, barley, sorghum, flax, sunflowers and canola can all be harvested with a head designed for that grain. This is one of the principal advantages of using combine harvester that makes this equipment useful to grain farmers.
The Dr JS Moroka grain project has 61 beneficiaries (52 males and 9 females). Addressing the farmers, MEC Moeketsi said farmers who wish to join the Cooperative, can still be part of it. However other grain Farmers are still invited to register into the database so that they can also be assisted.
These grain Producers are located in various communal lands of Seabe, Lefiso, Lefiswane, Senotlelo Pankop, Troya, Mmamethlake, Marapyane and Vaalbank. The combined arable land measures 2018,7 ha in extent, obtained from the Tribal Authorities through a Permission to Occupy (PTO).
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Speaking on behalf of farmers, Lebeya Aminah appreciated the support from the department that led to the delivery of the combined harvester. She also made a commitment that they will work together and make sure that the combined harvester is looked after. She was also joined by the Local Chief who said as a a tribal authority they will monitor and support the farmers.
The MEC said that other grain farmers are still invited to register into the database so that they can also be assisted.
The visit comes after the National Disaster Management Centre officially classified the inclement weather which has respectively ravaged Mpumalanga and other provinces as national disaster following significant damage to infrastructure and property, environmental degradation, disrupution and agricultural activities.
