The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has expressed shock and sadness at the sudden passing of Ms Ntombi Msimang, the Chairperson of the Board of the National Agricultural Marketing Council, an entity of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and also the Chairperson of Agriculture Sector Unity Forum, a body that is working towards uniting the farmers in South Africa.
The Committee has described the late Ms Msimang, who passed away on Sunday, as the leader whose level of accountability and transparency was beyond reproach. The Committee acknowledges the role that she played as the Chairperson of the Board in ensuring good governance in the NAMC to deliver on its legislative mandate.
According to the Portfolio Committee Chairperson Mr Lulu Johnson, Ms Msimang who has been a member of the NAMC Board since 2007, was a visionary Chairperson and a tremendous asset whose vast experience and knowledge contributed immensely to the agricultural sector and the economy of the country.
Mr Johnson said: “As the Committee, we regard her death as painful and a great loss, not only to her family and colleagues, but even to the Committee and the agricultural sector at large. We therefore wish to offer our sincerest sympathy to both her family and the Board to remain strong during this difficult time. Our immediate thoughts and prayers are with them.”
"Ms Msimang's loss comes at a time when our farmers needed such visionary leadership", concluded Mr Johnson.
Among her past roles, Ms Msimang founded Peulwana Agricultural Financial Services and was the Managing Director, Co-Managing Director of Strategic Agricultural Interventions, Board Member at the South African Table Grape Industry, Council Member at the African Farmers' Association of South Africa, Chairperson of Nozala Trust and in 2012 she was appointed as the Chairperson of the newly-established Agri-Sector Unity Forum.