SayPro Royal Committee, Non-Executive Member – Israel Basie Medupe
Your Majesties, Respected Traditional Leaders, Esteemed SayPro Executives, Distinguished Guests, Farmers, Youth Representatives, and Members of our Cherished Communities,
Good day to you all.
It is with deep honour and humble gratitude that I address you today as a Non-Executive Member of the SayPro Royal Committee on this special occasion — SayPro Agriculture Day 2025.
As we gather beneath the open skies, with the scent of soil and promise in the air, we are reminded of the timeless truth: agriculture is life. It is not just about food on our tables — it is about dignity, tradition, resilience, and opportunity.
My name is Israel Basie Medupe, and I come before you not only as a servant of SayPro but as a son of this soil — one who understands the spiritual, cultural, and economic power of agriculture in shaping our lives and our communities.
As a Non-Executive Member, I am entrusted with the responsibility to offer independent oversight, community-rooted advice, and to be a voice for accountability. But more than that, I see my role as one of ensuring that every initiative led by SayPro honours both tradition and progress, and that our agriculture programmes truly serve the people they are meant for.
This year, 2025, marks a turning point. We have seen:
- Youth taking charge of agribusiness opportunities, supported by SayPro’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programmes in partnership with the University of Johannesburg
- Traditional farming methods blending with new technologies, increasing productivity while maintaining environmental respect
- Greater access to funding, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing platforms for women, rural farmers, and cooperatives
- And a growing commitment to food sovereignty and community-driven sustainability
Let me be clear — we are not just growing crops. We are growing a movement. A movement where our elders are respected as knowledge keepers, our youth are empowered as innovators, and our land is protected as a sacred inheritance.
As Mr. Medupe, I call on all of us — leaders, citizens, professionals, and traditional custodians — to continue championing this cause with boldness, clarity, and unity. Let us support policy that empowers, let us fund programmes that uplift, and let us remember that the health of our nation begins with the health of our soil.
In closing, I leave you with these words:
“A nation that cannot feed itself is a nation that cannot free itself.”
Together, with SayPro leading the way, we will feed, free, and build Africa — one field, one youth, one harvest at a time.
Happy SayPro Agriculture Day 2025.
May we walk this path with purpose, and may our hands never tire of planting hope.
Thank you.
Ke a leboga.
Ngiyabonga.
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