Minister Chikunga Prioritizes Land Transfer for Women and Youth in Mpumalanga

Chikunga highlighted that the department is determined to empower women through integrated farming value-chain cooperatives and a cooperative banking institution.

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has committed her department to prioritizing the transfer of land, wealth, and income-generating opportunities to organized women. Speaking at the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature Women’s Parliament on Friday, Chikunga emphasized the need to address the historic marginalization of women, particularly their exclusion from land ownership, which continues to perpetuate economic disadvantages.

Chikunga highlighted that the department is determined to empower women through integrated farming value-chain cooperatives and a cooperative banking institution. The goal is to ensure that women gain ownership and control of land for productive and commercial purposes. “Land is wealth,” Chikunga stated, emphasizing the income-earning potential that land ownership can provide.

The Minister also reaffirmed the department’s commitment to ensuring that women and youth have access to land for agricultural purposes and related economic activities. She underscored the importance of placing women at the center of the green manufacturing sector initiatives announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Opening of Parliament Address last month, with Mpumalanga identified as a key area of focus.

To further support economic empowerment, Chikunga announced the launch of Emerging Industrialists Accelerator Programs, which will target women in key sectors such as energy security, maritime, defense, aerospace, and agriculture. These programs will involve collaboration with state-owned entities (SOEs) and industry associations, providing support from ideation to commercialization.

Additionally, the department will advocate for the creation of an Emerging Industrialists Fund, aimed at transforming young people’s ideas into productive economic ventures. Chikunga emphasized that the state must lead as the primary investor, particularly in high-potential industries like tourism, where young women can become owners and operators of infrastructure.

Chikunga also revealed plans to enroll the first group of National Youth Service (NYS) recruits before the end of the financial year, with a focus on ensuring that 50% of beneficiaries are women. This SANDF-led initiative, launched by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, aims to address youth unemployment in the country’s poorest districts, with a target of 125,000 participants in its first year.

As part of the program, emerging industrialists will receive training in the design, manufacturing, and application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs/drones), spanning various industries including mining, construction, oil, and gas. The initiative will involve a coordinated effort among industry associations, SOEs, universities, and other key stakeholders to combat youth unemployment and promote economic empowerment.