The two-day Taking Parliament To The People programme held at Osizweni Community Hall in Newcastle, under Amajuba District Municipality, began on Tuesday 22 September with MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, providing feedback to the issues raised by farmers in the previous session during the Multi-Party Oversight in the district.

The session brought together Members of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, to take Parliament to the doorstep of the people of Amajuba.

During the previous session, farmers and community members raised critical issues including limited access to agricultural land and implements, shortage of water for crop and a need for accessible veterinary and extension services.

MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said that the department is working round the clock to ensure every ward gets a dedicated Extension Practitioner and that seeds and inputs will be provided through the Multi-Planting Season to be launched with Premier Hon. Thamsanqa Ntuli and his Cabinet in early October, with 314 farmers in Dannhauser to benefit.

On tractor services, she said 60 hectares have been planted in Mossdale this winter, with 130 hectares more for 26 farmers still to come.

On other issues raised by locals in Dannhauser, the 150-ha farm in Ward 9 was previously fenced and supported with tractors but stalled due to community conflict - one of the farmers Ms Zanele Mbatha is now assisted with vegetables and 100 mushroom packs. Ms Nomshado Hadebe in Ward 7 and Ms Sylvia Kubheka have been assessed and prioritised for fencing, water tanks and garden support in 2027/28, while Dooringkop farm will benefit from the Multi-Planting Season.

The community of Madlangeni raised concerns about the uncompleted Agri-Hub and slow pace of land restitution and grazing permits, the MEC said "The Agri-Village concept was started in 2012 led by Land Restitution and Rural Development to acquire land, Human Settlements to build houses, and Agriculture to provide support. The project stalled because the land was not acquired, affecting all other departments.

KaMadlopha-Mthethwa assured farmers that as part of the Multi-Planting Planting Season 'Lethwas’ ihlobo' the Department will work over 7 000 hectares through its Mechanisation Programme, with Amajuba District prioritised for youth-and women-led cooperatives.

She said that under-utilised land will be assessed and brought back to production through the Phez’komkhono Food Security Programme.