commercial agricultural development through equitable access to resources and meaningful participation by all stakeholders.

Government intends to mediate the dire situation of rural communities by introducing rural development programmes such as agriculture crop production, livestock development and the provision of the needed infrastructure, according to the draft strategy. “Rural Development has emerged in the past two years as national policy priority,” stated MEC for the Department, Mr Mbulelo Sogoni.

Some of the various stakeholders present were representatives from traditional leaders; faith-based organisations, labour organisations, the youth sector, local government, provincial legislature, the higher education sector, organised farmers and the business sector.
In his keynote address on the second day, ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe affirmed the commitment of the ANC government to the cause of rural development. However, he said, “This strategy is too thick, it needs to be simplified. The message needs to be clear and simple”.

He also added that Rural Development needs to be put into its rightful context: as an Economic Transformation issue. He spoke to the fact that 60% of the South African population is rural and most of it is migrating to the urban areas to reside in informal settlements, and that this trend needs to be curbed.

Speaking practically about economic transformation he said, “People who show interest and tangible capability in developing agriculture should be given land to further develop and essentially contribute to the country’s economy.”

He also urged those in charge to ensure that the Eastern Cape is among the leading provinces in Rural Development and for that to happen, among other things, he said, higher education institutions in the province need to open Faculties of Agriculture.

According to Dr Sukude Matoti, Acting Director for Institutional Research & Planning, “The Institution has taken a decision to offer Agriculture. It is now following the requisite processes for introducing a new programme in terms of the norms and standards set by the Department of Higher Education and Training.”

This statement once again indicates that WSU is already taking action on its rural development priority and is acutely aware of its mandate to provide relevant programmes for its communities in line with national priorities.

By Khuthala Nandipha