The department of Agriculture in Musina, Vhembe district, honoured one of their longest serving officials, Ferdinand Musetha, who will be retiring the end of this month.

Musetha, who first worked for the department in Potchefstroom from July 27, 1964, received a farewell party during a function at the Musina Show Grounds yesterday (September 28).

The function was attended by council members from Musina Municipality, where Musetha has been working as a deputy manager.

Traditional leaders, farmers, former students he taught at Madzivhandila College and family members also attended the the function.

When he was working at Pilanesberg, after acquiring his diploma from Arabi Agricultural College in Marble Hall, Musetha and some staff members were reporting to the magistrate. They could travel as far as the Orange Free State, Eastern Cape, Mafikeng and Kimberly.

In September 14, 1971, he came back home and work in Sinthumule, Kutama, Dzanani and Mutale before he was transferred to Madzivhandila Agricultural College, where he worked as a lecturer for ten years, until August 1993, when he left to head the department in the Mutale area. He was later transferred to Musina, where he worked until today.

At the college, Musetha taught several subjects, including animal production and pasture science.

When Musetha was leaving the college for Mutale, there was a big strike where students demanded that he should stay with them. Musetha was then forced to continue working at the college on a part-time basis as a compromise for the students’ demands.