This week, DA leader John Steenhuisen stepped into his new role as agriculture minister, replacing the beloved Thoko Didiza who has done groundbreaking work in the sector. Didiza was not only a friend to commercial farmers, but also a driving force behind the black farmer development agenda.
Steenhuisen’s appointment came as a big surprise, even to him, as he had been aiming for Deputy President in the government of national unity negotiations with the ANC just two days before.
A DA agriculture minister caught many new-era farmers off guard, and doubly so because it was a white man. Concerns have arisen about whether he will turn his back on them and what will happen to the work already done to transform the sector. There is still much to be done to make it more inclusive and progressive.
In an exclusive interview with Food For Mzansi hours after his appointment, Steenhuisen addressed these concerns. He pledged to work diligently to ensure that the strides made in the agricultural sector toward inclusivity and empowerment of black farmers would not only be maintained, but accelerated under his leadership.
The appointment of Steenhuisen as the new agriculture minister serves as a poignant reminder of the ever-present chasm between South Africa’s past and its aspirations for a more inclusive future. This chasm, so vividly captured in Wandile Sihlobo’s book, A Country of Two Agricultures, reflects the reality of a sector still grappling with the legacies of apartheid while striving for a better tomorrow.
The legitimate fears of South Africans, especially those who have borne the brunt of historical injustices, are not unfounded. The pain of the past is not a distant memory but a lived reality that continues to shape the socioeconomic landscape. Agriculture, with its deep roots in the nation’s history, is a microcosm of these broader societal struggles.
Didiza, during her tenure, was a beacon of hope. She embodied the promise of change, working tirelessly to bridge the gap between the old guard and new-era farmers. Her initiatives aimed at empowering black farmers were not just policy measures, but acts of reconciliation, striving to heal the wounds inflicted by years of systemic exclusion. Her departure has left many wondering if the fragile progress made will now falter.
Bridging past and future
For many, Steenhuisen’s appointment feels like a step backwards. The optics of a white man leading a ministry at the intersection of the past and the future are jarring. It stirs fears of regression, of a return to the days — not too long ago — when the voices and needs of black farmers were marginalised. These fears are legitimate, born from a history that has shown time and again how easily progress can be undone.
Yet, in his interview with Food For Mzansi, Steenhuisen sought to allay these fears. Words, however, are but a first step. The real test lies in actions, in demonstrating an understanding of the pain and aspirations of those who have been historically marginalised.
For Steenhuisen, this means more than just maintaining the status quo. It requires a proactive approach to breaking down the barriers that still exist within the sector.
It means challenging the parts of the sector that resist change, those who cling to the privileges of the past. It means actively working to create opportunities for black farmers, not as a token gesture, but as a fundamental restructuring of the agricultural landscape.
To do this, Steenhuisen must be prepared not just to be a new broom, but to fully understand and engage with the likes of salt-of-the-Earth Director-General Mooketsa Ramasodi.
Like Didiza, he should surround himself with agricultural economists like Wandile Sihlobo and Dr Sifiso Ntombela, who can use data to project and tell him unpopular opinions too.
He needs to sit at the feet of experienced farmers like Nick Serfontein and Kallie Schoeman, but also new shining stars like Gene Likhanya and Dimpho Xaba. While a brandy and Coke with the seasoned experts at Grain SA is great, he must also drink fine wine with the Agricultural Development Agency (Agda).
The task ahead is formidable. It requires not just policy shifts, but a change in mindset and a commitment to inclusivity that permeates every level of the ministry. The fear of regression is palpable, but so too is the potential for transformation.
Steenhuisen stands at a crossroads, with the power to either build on Didiza’s legacy or let it wither. His actions in the coming months will be closely watched, not just by those within the agricultural sector, but by all South Africans who yearn for a more equitable future.
As we reflect on this pivotal moment, we must remember that the pain of the past cannot be erased by a single leader. It requires a collective effort, a commitment to justice and inclusivity that goes beyond individual appointments. Steenhuisen’s tenure will be a test not just of his leadership, but of our nation’s ability to reconcile with its history and move forward together.
In the words of James Baldwin, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” South Africa’s agricultural sector, and indeed the country as a whole, must face its past head-on, with courage and resolve, if it is to build a future that is truly inclusive and just. DM