Ramaphosa hails ‘land reform champion’ Vuyo Mahlati

Mahlati, who passed away on Tuesday, was the president of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa and a former chair of the presidential expert advisory panel on land reform and agriculture.

Ramaphosa says she was a tireless advocate for the empowerment of smallholder farmers and rural women.

“This is a great blow to the agricultural fraternity and to the country as a whole, more so at a time when much of our work around land reform is coming to fruition.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, colleagues and friends at this difficult time, and the entire country mourns her loss.”

He says the land reform process is gaining momentum through the work done by the presidential panel.

“With the release of the revised Land Expropriation Bill and the state land release programme, we are demonstrating our seriousness about using agriculture and farming as catalysts for economic inclusion.

"As chair of the advisory panel and through her leadership in AFASA, Dr Mahlati was vocal about the need for black farmers and rural women to be brought into the mainstream of the sector.”

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