Association For Rural Advancement (AFRA)

13/10/2026

AFRA’s Agroecology Programme staff have been attending the Agroecology Action Collective initiated “Dialogue in Agroecology in South Africa”.

This Dialogue, hosted by the Agricultural Research Council over 12-13 October 2026, brought together civil society, academic and research institutions, and government (in particular the Department of Agriculture) to actively engage and interact on promoting agroecology in South Africa, on integrating agroecology into government planning and programmes, and on deepening the nascent Agroecology Framework for South Africa and its implementation.

This Dialogue was an important event that brought diverse views and approaches to agroecology into the same space and allowed discourse with a view to building greater consensus, in particular between civil society and government. Such consensus is critical if the agroecology project in South Africa is to proceed in a coherent manner and more importantly succeed in transforming farming and food systems in South Africa. It was also an important opportunity for relationship building within civil society, and between civil society and government.

This Discourse was a first, albeit important step. Continued dialogue, joint-work, and relationship-building needs to continue to ensure deepened and common thinking on approaches and objectives in relation to agroecology in the country.”




Agroecology Action Collective
Agricultural Research Council
Organic Consumers Association
Regeneration International

12/10/2026

07/10/2026

The open letter highlights the experiences of two families — the Nkosi family in Mpumalanga and the Sibisi family in KwaZulu-Natal — whose long-standing land claims remain unresolved. Their experiences show the devastating human consequences when land reform processes are delayed and state institutions fail to act.

These are not simply administrative delays. When land claims remain unresolved for decades, families remain vulnerable to eviction, harassment, litigation and the loss of their homes, livelihoods and ancestral graves.

AFRA is calling on government to:

- Expand properly funded mediation before land disputes reach court.
- Ensure accessible legal representation for farm dwellers and labour tenants.
- Strengthen protection of ancestral graves and burial rights.
- Include community-based organisations and rural people’s representatives in land reform policy and implementation.

Legality without humanity cannot deliver justice.

The law must protect people in practice — not only in theory.

Read the full article here👇🏽

The law is increasingly experienced not as a shield of protection, but as a source of fear, trauma, landlessness, and deep humiliation

06/10/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲?

For Nini Myeza, it started with a small household garden.

Today, that garden is producing food, creating opportunities for income and helping other farmers learn about agroecological practices.

Nini’s journey from survival to Agroecology Champion shows how agroecology can grow beyond one garden and contribute to a stronger community.

Discover the full story on our website: https://seriti.org.za/news/nini-myezas-agroecology-journey/

Association For Rural Advancement (AFRA)

30/09/2026

In 2025, AFRA celebrated a year of policy wins and legal advocacy for farm dwellers and labour tenants. The KZN COGTA Guidelines for the Servicing of Farm Dwellers were approved, requiring municipalities in AFRA's project areas to plan, budget for and deliver basic services, with compliance now mandatory for municipalities seeking grant support.

AFRA also applied to be admitted as amicus curiae in the AfriForum challenge to the Expropriation Act, and its submissions to Parliament and the Land Court helped secure an evaluation of the Labour Tenants Claims Resolution Programme. Young people from farming communities led a study visiting over 700 households across uMgungundlovu District, giving farm dwellers an evidence base of their own, and state land is now benefiting over 70 families in Impendle.

On the ground, agroecology flourished. The new Agroecology Learning and Innovation Hub opened in June 2025 with a seedling nursery, demonstration plots and a seed bank, supporting eight community-led Learning Sites run by our Agroecology Champions.

AFRA also welcomed new Board members and began planning for its 50th anniversary in 2029. Rooted in its history and always growing, AFRA thanks the farm dwellers, labour tenants, partners, funders, Board and team who made it all possible.

Full report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IK0KOrXtTZIupRecDT7gm48_rOx9IghS/view?usp=sharing

28/09/2026

Seed Saving & Seed Production Training

Farmers explored the full seed cycle from selecting healthy plants and mature seeds to harvesting, cleaning, drying, storing, and producing seedlings.

Key learnings included open pollinated, heirloom & hybrid seeds, pollination, seed genetics, maturity, storage, and lifespan.

The training also highlighted community seed banks and seed sharing, empowering farmers to produce and save their own seeds, cut costs, and secure reliable planting material for the future.

17/09/2026

Section 25 (5) of the RSA Constitution compels the state to take legislative and other measures to foster conditions which enable citizens to gain access to land on equitable basis.

The state has not met this constitutional obligation and civil society is coming together not only to ensure that the state enacts an appropriate law but also to ensure that it is a law that is responsive to the wide range of land needs & contexts of different citizens accross the country.

16/09/2026

ISIXWAYISO ESISUSWE EMTHINTWENI WESIMO SEZULU

Isexwayiso sikhishwe: 11:50 ngoLwesibili, 15 Septhemba 2026

IZINGA 4 – Imvula Ephazamisa Impilo Nezinhlelo Zomphakathi

Isixwayiso sisebenza:
NgoLwesine, 17 Septhemba 2026, 00:00 kuze kube uLwesihlanu, 18 Septhemba 2026, 23:59

Izindawo Ezithintekayo

* Dr N. Dlamini-Zuma
* Underberg
* Ethekwini
* Greater Kokstad
* Impendle
* Ingwe
* KwaDukuza
* Mandeni
* Maphumulo
* Mkhambathini
* Mpofana – Giants Castle
* Mpofana – Mooi River
* Ndwedwe
* Ray Nkonyeni
* Richmond
* The Msunduzi
* Ubuhlebezwe
* Umdoni
* uMlalazi
* uMngeni
* uMshwathi
* UMuziwabantu
* Umvoti
* Umzimkhulu
* Umzumbe

Umlayezo Omfushane

Imvula enamandla nephazamisayo kulindeleke ukuthi ibangele izikhukhula emigwaqweni nasezindaweni zokuhlala, ezisemthethweni nezingekho emthethweni, kanye nengozi empilweni yabantu ezingxenyeni eziseningizimu yeKwaZulu-Natal ngoLwesine nangoLwesihlanu.

Ingxoxo / Isimo Sezulu

Uhlelo olunamandla lomoya onengcindezi ephezulu kanye nohlelo olunengcindezi ephansi olusogwini lwaseKwaZulu-Natal, kanye nohlelo olunengcindezi ephansi oluzimele olusenkabeni yezwe, kungaholela ezimvuleni ezisabalele nezimvula ezinamandla eKwaZulu-Natal. Kodwa-ke, ezindaweni ezisenyakatho-mpumalanga kulindeleke ukuthi imvula ibe yizindawo ezithile ngoLwesine nangoLwesihlanu.

IMIPHUMELA ENGASE YENZEKE

* Ukuphazamiseka okukhulu kokuhamba kwezimoto ngenxa yokugcwala kwezikhukhula noma ukuvalwa kwemigwaqo emikhulu.
* Ukulimala kwempahla, ingqalasizinda, ukulahleka kwemisebenzi yokuziphilisa kanye nemfuyo.
* Ingozi empilweni ngenxa yemifudlana egeleza ngamandla namanzi ajulile.
* Ukususwa kwemiphakathi ezindaweni ezithintekile.
* Eminye imiphakathi ingase ingafinyeleleki okwesikhashana noma inqanyulwe kwezinye izindawo.

IMIYALO / IZIXWAYISO

Qaphela noma ugweme ukuhamba emabhulohweni nasemigwaqweni esezindaweni eziphansi, njengoba lezi zindawo zingase zigcwale amanzi futhi kungase kube khona imigodi emikhulu (sinkholes).

Umthombo: South African Weather Service – Impact Based Warning ⚠️

09/09/2026