Farming Without Title In Tylden

In 2010, Tembi Xamesi was awarded the 1 165ha Riversdale farm near Tylden in the Eastern Cape via the state land reform programme. He has made steady progress with livestock and a cash-crop lucerne initiative, but a lack of title has been a serious hindrance to further development. Mike Burgess visited him.

- Mike Burgess

Tembi Xamesi is grateful to have been awarded the farm Riversdale near Tylden in the Eastern Cape as well as R3 million from the state’s Recapitalisation and Development Programme (RECAP) in 2012. But, on the other hand, he estimates that he has personally invested an additional R5 million in a farm that does not belong to him.

To make matters worse, Xamesi is obliged to pay the state a rental of more than R130 000 a year because Riversdale was acquired for R7 million via the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) land reform programme.

Despite these financial constraints, Xamesi has made significant progress and currently farms 160 Dohne Merino ewes, 80 commercial Bonsmara cows, 30 crossbred beef cows, and 130 crossbred female goats. The livestock is supported by 4ha of oats and 50ha of lucerne under irrigation. All surplus lucerne is sold as a cash crop.

RIVERSDALE

Xamesi grew up in the communal areas near Illenge, between Tylden and Lady Frere, where his family ran a number of cattle, sheep and goats. They also had title to 50ha, on which they still plant maize while contract-ploughing in the area.

The year 2010 saw both joy and heartache for the family: they were awarded Riversdale, but Xamesi’s father, Stanford, died, and never had the opportunity to farm here.

Despite their continued involvement at Illenge, the Xamesi family relocated their livestock – 40 Merino sheep, 30 crossbred beef cattle and 35 crossbred goats – to Riversdale the following year.