Media statements, announcements, media advisories

2026

Media Statement by the MEC for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Hon. Mrs Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa during the welcoming of new recruits and the launch of vehicles to bolster FMD vaccination drive

FMD vaccination teams move to Abaqulusi after a completion of their mission in Pongola an Dumbe

Agriculture MEC leads fruit tree planting in uMzinyathi District to boost food security and fighting climate change

KwaZulu-Natal Veterinary teams completed FMD Vaccinations in uMkhanyakude District

AGRICULTURE MEC PRAISES EAR TAGGING AS A GAME CHANGER TO ADDRESS TRIPPLE CHALLENGES AFFECTING THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY

FMD Vaccination Rollout Update

Jozini and UMhlabuyalingana finalise their FMD vaccination rollout today

Workaholic agriculture MEC oversees seven hundred cattle receiving lifesaving vaccines for their recovery in Jozini during the start of Easter

Vaccination efforts in Jozini yielded good results on Easter Friday

FMD update in uMkhanyakude district

Agriculture MEC encourages interfaith to lead in agricultural activities

Agriculture MEC attracts more young talent into the sector with job opportunities

FMD vaccination update and latest developments

Agriculture MEC Urges Graduates to Join the Dairy Industry

MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa’s visit sparks emotional scenes and new beginnings in Harry Gwala District

Foot-and-Mouth Disease update

Cedara College of Agriculture Graduation Ceremony

Agriculture MEC confers Agricultural Qualifications and encourages Graduates to become self-employed Agri-entrepreneurs

Owen Sithole College of Agriculture Graduation Ceremony

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccinations Update

Agriculture MEC urges other Districts yet to receive vaccines to be well prepared

Agriculture MEC provides an update on FMD vaccinations in KwaZulu-Natal

Relief for KwaZulu-Natal Livestock Farmers as Dollvet Vaccines are administered to cattle

Agriculture MEC hands over infrastructure worth R60 million

KZN Agriculture MEC oversees and kickstarts the second District’s FMD Vaccination Drive

MEC provides an update on the Ugu Mass Vaccination Drive

Agriculture MEC says FMD vaccination programme on schedule, with vaccines for northern KZN on their way

Agriculture MEC pleased with the FMD Vaccination Programme in the Ugu District

KwaZulu-Natal Premier has unveiled new tractors and handheld tillers to tackle food insecurity

Agriculture MEC praises communal livestock farmers for vaccination response

KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture MEC orders a total ban on animal movements as she distributes FMD vaccines

KZN Agriculture MEC honours agri enterprises involved in food security

KZN Agriculture MEC assures all cattle in the Province will receive life-saving FMD vaccine jabs

The Classification of Foot-And-Mouth Disease by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Honourable A.T. Ntuli

KZN Agriculture MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa calls for support toward uMkhanyakude District Schools

KZN Agriculture MEC demands timely completion of Bhambanana Abattoir

KZN Cabinet welcomes National FMD Vaccination Strategy, announces province-wide rollout from February

2025

Disaster Relief Intervention

KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture wins Top Accolades in two prestigious National Awards Ceremonies

kaMadlopha-Mthethwa brings hope to revive Tugela Ferry Irrigation Scheme’s engine pumps

KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli and MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa to host high-level Extension Summit on Climate Resilient Agriculture

KZN DARD successfully held its Maiden Post-Budget Consultative Engagement

Forging relations with dairy producers to overcome FMD

New hope for KZN Beef Producers amid FMD

KZN Premier: we want to see a green KZN

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development takes zero tolerance on theft and corruption

Owen Sithole College of Agriculture 2025 Graduation

The status of Foot and Mouth Disease in KwaZulu-Natal following a positive case in Amajuba District

KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirms an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease following a positive case in Amajuba District

kaMadlopha-Mthethwa urges agricultural students to be innovative in addressing challenges in the sector

A glimpse of hope for Mkuze following the recent floods

Heavy rains have left a trail of destruction in uMkhanyakude

2024

MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa calls on youth entrepreneurs to be the agents of transformation in the agricultural sector

MEC KaMadlopha-Mthethwa inspects Spaza Shops around Hluhluwe

16 Days of Activism Programme

KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture MEC KaMadlopha-Mthethwa boosts communal livestock farmers with much-needed dipping chemicals and calls on farmers to routinely dip their cattle to prevent tick-borne diseases and FMD

KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa to introduce revolutionary dipping chemicals as measures to fight tick-borne diseases

Fighting poverty is the priority of KZN Government

KZN Premier embarks on strategic working visit to the US for Climate Week

MEC’s Stakeholder Engagement in Hluhluwe

KZN Premier Thami Ntuli and Agriculture MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa receive HSRC report and vow to mitigate food security risks

MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa assesses the damages at the Kokstad Research Station due to veldfires

KZN DARD cautions farmers against possible veld fires as inclement weather persists

Wool Improvement Programme Media Invite

The KZN Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Welcomes Its Newly Appointed MEC, MPL Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa

KZN DARD boosts Impendle small-holders with Brahman bulls, tractors and water tanks

Over 1 000 stand to gain new skills while Amakhosi partners with KZN DARD to uplift rural economies through livestock improvement

From book to ground – KZN DARD Welcomes Top Achievers from its Colleges of Agriculture into the Unemployed Graduates Programme

KZN DARD hands over a state of the art abattoir to triple Phangela Farm income

Hope restored as kwaMachi families receive homes and Brahman bulls handed to Amakhosi to ensure decent livelihoods for farmers

KZN Government prevents rabies fatalities through a massive awareness campaign while it empowers township farmers to grow local economies

Increase in rural incomes assured as government rolls out programmes aimed at stimulating economic growth

The future of agriculture lies in the hands of graduates who will bring innovation and high level skills towards the building of a resilient and profitable sector

Azowel project recovering after severe hail storm damage to crops and infrastructure

A major boost for KZN co-ops as Government hands over ownership of multimillion rand tractors

KwaMpumuza farmers receive infrastructure, breeding bulls to grow communal projects that will guarantee sustainable rural economic growth

KZN Interdenominational Churches partner with KZN Government to end hunger within their communities by starting vegetable gardens

More rural farmers enter the cannabis industry as additional permits are received by uMkhanyakude growers

Amajuba livestock farmers receive Brahman bulls to assist in the production of the best genotype of cattle, increasing profitability

2023

Provincial Government cements partnership with provincial cannabis captains to edify local growers

Sugarcane, the gold of KZN, will see increased production and max profit as soil quality improves

KZN farmers anticipate business to boom as Government supported by AFASA, strikes a deal with Karan Beef

Umnotho Kubantu Outreach Programme in Imbali Township

uMkhanyakude Planting Season Roll-out

KZN Government empowers small-holder and livestock farmers in Molweni

KZN Government dedicated to achieving sustainable food security while creating much-needed jobs

Mr Zibusiso Dlamini appointed as Head of Department for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

MEC Zuma assures Women a place in the Agricultural Sector

A gleamer of hope for the future of agriculture in KZN

Handover of Ngolotshe Dam and Boreholes

Rabies Vaccination Drive at eNqoleni Village in King Cetshwayo District

MEC Zuma outlines the Departments Programmes

2022

King Cetshwayo District Champion MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi wrapped up the Planting Season Rollout successfully in Nkandla Municipality

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube to launch a Multi-Million Rand Programme in Ugu District

KZN DARD MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi welcomes new Acting HOD

Minister Didiza uplifts the country-wide ban on movement of cattle

Agribiz Indaba to open market access for small-scale farmers

MEC Sithole-Moloi launches the Unemployed Agricultural Graduates Programme

MEC to launch the Unemployed Graduate Programme in Eshowe

KZN Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi condemns thuggish behaviour by Jozini Mayor

MEC Sithole-Moloi visits KwaHlabisa to roll out the Vaccination Campaign to curb the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease

KZN Agriculture MEC responds to lightning which wreaked havoc in the agricultural sector in Kokstad

KZN Agriculture Department suspends official ferrying people to a political campaign

MEC Sithole-Moloi to engage farmers affected by the recent storms in KZN

2021

MEC Sithole-Moloi to launch the River Valley Farm in New Hanover

Deputy Minister Gina and MEC Sithole-Moloi to participate in a Beef Farmers Day in Pietermaritzburg to promote the red meat export market

MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development visits thriving women-owned farms in Mooi River

MEC Sithole-Moloi to unveil innovative programmes for unemployed youth and revive the aging KZN agricultural sector

MEC Sithole-Moloi will leave ‘No Stone Unturned’ on the death of a 12 year-old boy run over by a State Vehicle in the Howick area

Isolezwe article: Misleading and total devoid from the Truth

Sithole-Moloi amplifies KZN’s harvest plan by 40 new agricultural advisors, 11 new multi-purpose vehicles and a chase to register 28 000 farmers for economic stimulus before harvest time

MEC Sithole-Moloi to hand over a new vehicle fleet worth more than R3 million in preparation for the upcoming harvest