Agri SA is pleased to announce the appointment of Johann Kotzé as their new Chief Executive Officer.

Jaco Minnaar, Agri SA President, congratulated Kotzé and expressed his excitement over the new phase ahead.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) recently published draft revised Regulations regarding the Procedural Requirements for Water Use Licence Applications and Amendments for comment. According to the draft regulations, certain enterprises applying for water use licenses to take or store water, will in the future have to allocate shares of up to 75% to black South Africans in order for such water use licenses to be granted. The consequences for food security and the sustainability of the agricultural sector should these regulations be passed in the current form cannot be understated – they would have a devastating impact on the sector and its ability to provide the country with a secure supply of food. This is because focusing solely on ownership, to the exclusion of all other relevant factors, will mean the loss (or partial loss) of water resources for numerous currently viable commercial farming enterprises.

As Minister Bheki Cele delivers his budget vote on policing today, it is imperative that the Department of Police’s budget includes meaningful resource allocation towards the implementation of the Rural Safety Strategy.

Agri SA welcomes the release of the report by the Task Team on Animal Biosecurity. The task team was appointed to deal with the issue of animal biosecurity and the role of the state in this regard. We thank the Minister for the release of the report. Completed already in May 2022, it has finally been made public after persistent lobbying by the sector.

As Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, delivers her department’s (DALRRD) budget vote address today, 9 May 2023, Agri SA hopes to hear key announcements on the implementation of concrete action to address the challenges facing the sector and the growing threats to the country’s food security.

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently in a La Niña state, and forecasts indicate that it will likely return to a neutral state by autumn (Mar-Apr-May). However, ENSO’s impact is limited for the coming seasons until the next summer season which may be impacted by an El Nino state if early predictions are correct. Caution is advised however as changes in the ENSO prediction may change during winter and only monitoring is advised at this stage.

Agri SA and the South African Association for Water Users Associations (SAAFWUA) welcome the decision of the Constitutional Court to dismiss the appeal by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in a crucial victory for the holders of water rights in South Africa. The Court conclusively ruled that water rights holders are entitled to transfer such rights in accordance with the provisions of the National Water Act. It also confirmed that receiving financial compensation for transferred water use entitlements is neither prohibited nor unlawful in South Africa.

Agri SA has submitted its comments on the Expropriation Bill to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). The submission clearly signifies the potentially catastrophic impact of the bill on the agricultural sector and the country’s food security if passed by Parliament.

SA is distressed by the decrease in agricultural sector employment as reported by Stats SA in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for Q4: 2022. The report, released on 28 February 2023, shows a decrease of 12,000 jobs in the agricultural sector.

Agri SA welcomes the budget delivered by Minister Enoch Godongwana on 22 February 2023. While government could have gone further in addressing the challenges facing the agricultural sector, the budget reflected a sober analysis of the environment in which we operate. It demonstrated an understanding of the particular difficulties faced by the sector with significant implications for food security.

Agri SA is concerned by the announcement of a 9,6% increase in the national minimum wage. Any increase in costs will further strain already hard-pressed farmers. As the sector battles to contain the costs associated with loadshedding, crumbling infrastructure and high input costs, this increase will further undermine food security and put much-needed jobs on the line.

As South Africa awaits the 2023 Budget Speech to be delivered by Minister Enoch Godongwana on 22 February, it is crucial that the Minister announces measures to protect the country’s food security. With loadshedding as the most urgent threat to the nation’s farmers, government must be resolute in allocating resources to buttress farmers from its worst effects and ensure the sustainable production of food in the interests of all South Africans.

Agri SA welcomes the declaration of a state of disaster addressing the damage caused by floods in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Free State, and North West. As farmers face untold damage to their produce, property and livelihoods, the declaration must be followed by the deployment of resources to provide relief to farmers and rebuild critical infrastructure damaged by the floods.

While Agri SA welcomes the President’s focus on the electricity crisis in his State of the Nation Address, the sector remains deeply concerned about the ongoing and devastating impact of loadshedding on the agricultural sector. We further question the necessity and value of the declaration of a National State of Disaster to address the crisis.

As President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his State of the Nation Address this week, the only way to guarantee food security in South Africa will be an announcement of immediate action by government and Eskom to relieve the crippling burden of loadshedding on farmers. Without urgent action, South Africans can expect crop failure, higher food prices and shortages of certain food products in the near future. A state of disaster alone will not avert this threat – what is required is targeted relief.

While Agri SA welcomes the 2022 safer festive season operations launched by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in November, it remains essential that Minister Bheki Cele provides details for the rollout of the National Rural Safety Strategy in rural farming communities after the Rural Safety Summit held in June 2022 in Parys. Agri SA urges Minister Cele and police management to take seriously the implementation of the strategy.

Agri SA has called on government to limit any increase in the National Minimum Wage to an inflation-related increase. The sector has faced significant headwinds in recent years which threaten the viability of many farms. Agri SA also recognises the cost pressures on all consumers in South Africa. and therefore, while the need for an increase is clear, it needs to be sustainable for country’s farming operations to ensure food security for consumers.

Agri SA welcomes the appointment of Janse Rabie, the Legal and Policy Executive at Agri SA to the Presidential Climate Commission by President Ramaphosa. This important body has a central role to play as South Africa works to adapt to and mitigate the effects and causes of climate change. With the agricultural sector amongst the most affected by this phenomenon, the appointment to the commission of a representative for the sector is an important step in building the consensus we need to effectively address the challenges before us.

The Pretoria High Court has issued a critical judgment requiring that the City of Tshwane invest R18 million in the implementation of a precinct plan for the maintenance of the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market. This judgment flows from a case brought by the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa to address the critically dysfunctional state of a market that provides access to fresh produce for nearly 6,5 million South Africans.

Agri SA is extremely concerned that the 2022/2023 summer season will lead to an even greater locust outbreak if no proactive measures are taken now. South Africa will likely experience further locust infiltration of agriculture areas that will affect yields and the capacity to control the magnitude of the outbreak.