The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Ms Thoko Didiza, will on 6 and 7 May 2022 handover a railway siding machine, farming implements and title deeds to the five Melmoth communities in KwaZulu-Natal.

The South African Farmers Development Association (SAFDA) was appointed by DALLRD to implement the Mkhuze Rail Siding Transloading Facility Project on behalf of the 1 900 Makhathini small-scale sugarcane farmers. DALLRD funded the project for the Makhathini small-scale farmers to the amount of R38 million.

This will enhance their meaningful participation in the sugarcane sector whilst simultaneously transitioning them to the mainstream players role in this lucrative business sector. The Minister will also handover Machinery and Farming equipment to the value of R10 Million as part of the operationalisation of uMkhanyakude District Sugarcane Farmer Production Support Unit (FPSU).

The Minister will also handover Settlement Certificates and Title Deeds to the five Melmoth communities. The Minister will hand over to the four communities some of the equipment that has been acquired using the development funding. The cumulative value of the both the land acquisition and development funding figures is over R1 billion

Source: Government of South Africa