Imagine you have 370 hectares of land but no way to make it profitable.
That was the situation that Makhosikhosi Communal Property Trust was facing until they signed a lease agreement with Tongaat Hulett in 2013.
The two organisations celebrated the success of their partnership on Wednesday December 17 at the Makhosikhosi Farm in Upper Tongaat.
Already 275 hectors of sugar cane has been planted and 42 permanent jobs have been created.
“I was one of those who did not like the lease agreement when it was signed but today I say thank you to Hulett for helping us. We got this land while we had no money. I hope we will never have to part ways,” said chairperson of Makhosikhosi Communal Property Trust, Virginia Gumede.
The leased areas are along the R614 regional route. It was mutually agreed that Tongaat Hulett would utilise its expertise and resources to revive the farms.
Tongaat Hulett executive director Steve Saunders said they trying to show that land reform can work in this country and what they have started they will like to expend it to other areas.
“This is just a first step of a long journey we are prepared to take with this community. We do not own this land but we help to manage it,” said Saunders.
The trust also received a car from Tongaat Hulett. The construction of their offices will commerce next year.
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