Small-scale farmers and livestock SMMEs in the North West are calling for urgent action to safeguard their businesses and livelihoods, after years of grappling with escalating crime and inadequate support. This week, members of the North West Active Farmers Association handed over a memorandum of demands to the MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, who received it on behalf of Premier Lazarus Mokgosi.
The memorandum outlined concerns over rampant stock theft, insufficient policing in rural areas, poor road infrastructure, and limited access to funding opportunities that are crippling emerging farmers. The Association representative stressed Andrew Aphane that, “ if these issues are not addressed, small and emerging enterprises (SMMEs) in the farming sector will continue to suffer devastating losses, threatening food security and job creation.”
Maria Mazwi, a small-scale cattle farmer from Mahikeng, said the challenges had reached breaking point. “We are losing livestock every month. Some of us have taken loans to grow our herds, only to see them stolen overnight. It feels like we are working for criminals. We are asking government to not only send more police patrols, but also to give us tools like surveillance support and community policing forums that actually work,” she said.
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Another emerging farmer, Thabo Motswenyane from Zeerust, said the infrastructure problem was just as damaging.
“We can’t reach markets on time because of damaged gravel roads. By the time we get produce or livestock to buyers, we’ve already lost money. If these issues aren’t fixed, SMMEs like ours will never grow, and the whole value chain of food production will collapse,” he explained.
In response, MEC Wessels Morweng assured farmers that their voices had been heard and that government was committed to finding solutions. Accepting the memorandum, he acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised. “I am not only receiving this memorandum as a MEC, but also as a community member who knows the importance of livestock and farming to our people. We are in full swing to deal with these challenges. Strengthening rural policing, working with farmer associations, and improving roads are part of our immediate priorities,” he said.
Morweng added that the Premier’s office would convene follow-up engagements with stakeholders to ensure accountability and progress on the demands. “We cannot allow our small businesses and farmers to be left vulnerable. The Premier has asked me to assure you that action will follow, not just promises,” he emphasised.
The handover represents a growing trend of SMMEs in rural industries mobilising collectively to demand accountability and sustainable support. As the backbone of rural economies, small-scale farmers say they cannot continue to carry the costs of crime and failing infrastructure alone.
For many, the response from MEC Morweng brings a glimmer of hope. However, the test will be in the implementation. Farmers insist that government must now turn words into concrete action, ensuring that SMMEs in the agricultural sector can thrive and contribute meaningfully to economic growth and food security in the province.
