The MEC for Agriculture in the Eastern Cape, Nonceba Kontsiwe, today honoured the province’s
best-performing Extension and Advisory Services (EAS) practitioners at a glittering awards
ceremony held at the Department of Agriculture’s Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development
campus.
The EAS practitioners, described by the Department as its “foot soldiers,” were recognised and
awarded for their excellent, day-to-day work in providing crucial technical advice and coordinating
agricultural initiatives across the province. Their efforts have been instrumental in transforming
the lives of farmers.
Their recognized work includes providing effective technical support to farmers, leveraging
research and technology to improve agricultural productivity, enhancing access to markets and
finance for rural communities and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Addressing the scores of EAS practitioners at the event, MEC Kontsiwe emphasised their vital
role:
“You are the first people to transform the lives of the people on the ground,” said MEC Kontsiwe.
She reaffirmed the Provincial Government’s commitment to the sector, citing its economic
importance:
“The reason why we are doing this is that you would have seen that the automotive sector is
closing down in Gqeberha and we have agreed as cabinet that agriculture is the only economic
backbone of this province. This is why we are going to expand our support to the farmers.”
The MEC also announced that the Department has allocated R6 million to professionalise
Extension Services in the province.
In her policy speech earlier this year MEC Kontsiwe announced that the implementation of
Department of Agriculture (DoA) programmes is currently driven by 554 Extension and Advisory
practitioners across the province and that the Department was conducting commodity-specific
training to provide specialised and targeted support to different subsectors.
She also announced that 240 extension practitioners have been trained in the 2024/25 with plans
to increase this to 257 in 2025/26.
Speaking on behalf of AmaMpondomise King Zwelozuko, Nkosi Pakamisa Tyali commended the
EAS practitioners for their dedication.
“You are the ones who work directly with the land. It is the King’s wish that our land be used for
the development of our people,” said Nkosi Tyali.
Nkosi Tyali also used the platform to decry the prevalence of stock theft in the area.
Mr. Msimelelo Mgolozelwa, who hails from the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality in the Chris Hani
District, was announced as the overall winner of the awards. He expressed his gratitude for the
recognition:
“We thank the department for recognising the hard work we do as extension practitioners.”
The categories were:
Recogntion of Service Awards:
Best Subject Matter Specialist – Mxolisi Mtyobeli – OR Tambo District
Best Technical Support – Thabang Mankinya – Alfred Nzo District
Best Extension Supervisor – Babalwa Makatisa – Alfred Nzo District
Main Awards:
Most Improved Young Professional – Samkelisiwe Zungu – Alfred Nzo District
Legend/Lifetime Achiever – Khuthala Xulubana – Chris Hani District
Best Extension Practioner Certificated – Phooko
Best Extension Practitioner Candidate – Msimelelo Mgolozelwa Chris Hani District
Best Extension Professional – Molosi – Amathole District
Overall Winner – Msimelelo Mgolozelwa – Chris Hani District
Best Performing District – OR Tambo District