During the opening of the House of Traditional Leaders in 2016, David Mabuza, Premier of Mpumalanga, made a commitment to assist traditional leaders with the challenges they faced in empowering their communities.
In line with Mabuza’s promise, Mpumalanga MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Refilwe Mtsweni, would distribute the tractors and implements to 60 traditional leaders at this year’s opening of the House of Traditional leaders to promote farming in the province.
“The traditional leaders will be able to utilise the tractors to assist their communities with their farming activities. The traditional leaders will [also] be responsible for servicing the tractors moving forward,” said George Mthethwa, spokesperson for Mtsweni.
The Traditional Institutional Management programme had budgeted for the tractors and implements. The necessary funds were withdrawn from the R148, 470 million set aside for the programme for the 2017/2018 financial year.
Agfacts.co.za reported that the tractor model bought was the Massey Ferguson 290. The two-wheel drive was worth around R450 000, while the four-wheel drive was worth R550 000, without any implements.
