The Bjatladi community in Limpopo is set to reap the benefits of its ownership of Zebediela Citrus Farm, which is under new management and has had an injection of capital.
The farm, outside Polokwane, reverted to community ownership following a successful land restitution claim.
Zebediela, once hailed as a leading citrus farm in the southern hemisphere, had been unable to meet its orders, breaching supplier contacts and failing to pay staff.
Since then management of the farm has been taken over by Eight Mile Investments, a company associated with Cape-based fruit exporter Fruitco, which is gearing up to resume full operations.
"Things are going well at Zeb [Zebediela]. We are currently preparing an international order from the farm, which needs to be dispatched," said Fruitco MD Paul Huish.
Mokwena, who is now a legal adviser to the beneficiaries, said progress on the farm was visible, with new tractors having been purchased, new water sources established and preparations for a modernised packhouse under way.
Source: businesslive.co.za
