WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP BY CHARNDRÉ EMMA KIPPIE
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Bongi Sithole-Moloi, remains committed to sustaining the agrarian revolution in SA. Planting Her Seeds Taking over the reins from MEC Themba Mthembu (who served since 2016), Bongi Sithole-Moloi became the Honourable MEC of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development back in 2019. In a media statement, issued by the previous KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism And Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, she was celebrated for her valuable contribution to agricultural production. “I wish to pay tribute to the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Bongi Sithole-Moloi who is leading all efforts aimed at fast-tracking the entry of women into agriculture, the sector previously dominated by men...Importantly, as the department we undertake to work with the MEC, her department
30 | Public Sector Leaders | October 2021
and its entities in sustaining the agrarian revolution”, said Hon.Dube-Ncube. “I know for the fact that since being deployed to this office, MEC SitholeMoloi has ensured that thousands of emerging farmers are trained. She has ensured that they are prepared to lead in agricultural production.
To increase agricultural productivity, it is critical to introduce young people with fresh knowledge and ideas “Through the hard-work of MEC Sithole-Moloi, we have no doubt that in the long-run we will have a considerable pool of black commercial farmers that operate beyond the confines of state-run market outlets. Indeed this is the time for women to take up their space in the broader export agricultural market”, concluded Dube-Ncube.
