As part of the uMgungundlovu District Operation Sukuma Sakhe programme, with a firm focus on addressing societal and service delivery issues on Wednesday, 03 March 2026 in Richmond's Ward 6 Phatheni area, MEC for the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, also took time to attend to her Department's challenges.

The Operation Sukuma Sakhe initiative also conducts oversight visits to assess service delivery and ensure officials execute their responsibilities, particularly in providing farmer support materials to communities. Regarding the Phatheni Farmers Association, kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said, "They have bought seeds and we have used our mechanization with tractors, cultivating 35 hectares. We will intervene further by providing fencing and ensure they have access to markets for their dry beans. We will engage the Department of Education and alert them about a possibility of buying their fresh produce from local farming cooperatives."

The Agriculture Minister also urged school authorities to refrain from punishing pupils by forcing them to do the schools' agricultural activities as a way of disciplining them, cautioning that that approach may lead the public to develop a negative perception of the agricultural sector, which plays a critical role in transforming the people's lives for the better.