In line with government’s vision of empowering rural communities, this year’s World Food Day was celebrated in the remote village of Muyexe near the Kruger National Park last Friday.

Celebrated under the theme Achieving food security in times of crisis, the day aims to create awareness of the fight against hunger. Hundreds of community members were delighted to see Ms Sizakele Khumalo, popularly known as MaKhumalo, for the first time. She is one of Pres Jacob Zuma´s wives and has been named the Ambassador of Food Security in South Africa.

The event was held alongside World Post Day, whose keynote speaker was Minister of Communication Gen Siphiwe Nyanda, who also unveiled a new stamp.

MaKhumalo, who received wild applause from the crowd, will champion the household food production programme, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ms Joemat-Peterson said.

“The programme aims to bring experiential training, infrastructural and technological support to households which are engaged in activities for subsistence production and smallholder farmers who need encouragement to produce commodities for a more meaningful economic distribution,” she added.

The role includes collecting food parcels and distributes them to the poor, in line with Comprehensive Rural Development.

Ms Ndhaheni Mashaba, one of those who received a food parcels, said she was glad that government was beginning to take care of the rural poor.

Mashaba of Muyexe, said as rural people they felt neglected, but ever since the president launched the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme, life has changed for the better in their village.

“We now feel that we are part of the new South Africa that cares for its people and we really appreciate this from the bottom of our hearts,” she said.