New Gauteng Agriculture MEC Ramokgopa wants to focus on growing small-scale farmers

JOHANNESBURG - Rise Mzansi’s Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, who has been appointed Gauteng’s MEC for agriculture and rural development, said she’d be focusing on growing small-scale farmers and supporting the urban farming community.

Ramokgopa was appointed by Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Wednesday night, following two postponed attempts to reveal the province’s seventh Cabinet.

The African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) failed to reach a power-sharing deal, with Lesufi including the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and Patriotic Alliance (PA) amongst his executive.

Ramokgopa said it was an honour to be allocated a portfolio in the provincial government.

"It’s a critical portfolio that can help us in achieving our goals of ending hunger, reducing food waste and ensuring sustainable localised production of food."

Ramokgopa said she already saw exciting opportunities on the horizon, that would enable government to meaningfully impact the lives of those living in the province.

She added that her new job would also rely on partnerships with other departments, including those at national government.

"They will require collaboration and cooperation across a number of different entities, who we can then leverage some of their existing programmes, for example: education and training - we would like to see a greater focus on tech education in the agricultural industries to support, again, up and coming and small-scale farmers."