Attending Nampo as a farmer: Walking in President Cyril Ramaphosa's shoes
President Cyril Ramaphosa was spotted on the first day of the Nampo in Bothaville, not in an official capacity, but 'to do a bit of shopping' for his game farm in Limpopo.
Taking on Nampo in 20-year-old shoes
He said he didn't give much thought to his footwear before heading to the Nampo this year.
'I've had these shoes for 20 years,' he told Farmer's Weekly.
Nampo Park spans 40ha, and visitors often walk 4km to 5km a day to see everything on offer.
'By day two, people usually complain about blisters, calluses and hot spots,' said sister Pircelle Smit from Lenmed, which provides free medical services at the event. 'We treat them with ointments and plasters.'
According to Smit, Ramaphosa made a smart footwear choice.
'Worn-in shoes are best. Don't come to Nampo in brand-new shoes.'
Farmer to farmer talks with Ramaphosa
Dirk Strydom, Grain SA managing director, confirmed that Ramaphosa had informed them a few days before Nampo that he and his farm manager would be attending as farmers.
'We are going to talk farming matters with him, farmer to farmer,' said Strydom.
He added that the sustainability of farming and how to create an environment where farmers can flourish would be among the topics discussed with Ramaphosa.
'Other officials, who are in contact with the president, will be visiting Nampo later this week when we will discuss policies,' he said.
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Read original story on www.farmersweekly.co.za
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
28 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
'It was never my intention to evade accountability or undermine parliament — Nkabane
Higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane has accepted that her conduct was wrong when she appeared before a portfolio committee in parliament this week. TimesLIVE on Thursday reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa had asked Nkabane to write him a report on her conduct when she appeared in parliament and refused to answer questions relating to the process she followed on the appointment of chairs of sector education and training authorities (Setas). Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, on Thursday revealed that Nkabane had been requested to submit a detailed report on the appointment process, as well as an explanation of her conduct before the portfolio committee. Nkabane's demeanour was deemed disrespectful when she refused to answer questions and referred the chair of the committee to Google for answers to a question she was asked. Nkabane was criticised for appearing to be nonchalant and seemingly chewing gum the entire time she was before the committee. 'Upon reflection, and having considered the feedback received from various stakeholders, I acknowledge that the situation could have been handled differently. I take this opportunity to express my commitment to strengthening the relationship between the ministry, the department, and the portfolio committee,' said Nkabane in a statement released by her department. Ramaphosa had taken issue with Nkabane's behaviour and wanted her to explain herself as he believed government officials should always uphold standards when appearing before structures such as parliament. Magwenya said Ramaphosa expected ministers, deputy ministers and senior executives in the public sector to conduct themselves professionally, transparently and cordially in engaging parliament and other accountability structures. In her statement, Nkabane said she had intended to maintain what she said was a 'constructive, respectful and professional' working relationship with parliament. 'I remain committed to the principles of accountability, good governance and co-operative governance as outlined in our constitution and parliamentary protocols,' she said. 'It was never my intention to evade accountability or undermine the decorum of parliament. I will continue to lead with humility, and I value the critical role of parliament in providing oversight to ensure our sector delivers effectively for the benefit of all South Africans.'
The Citizen
29 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Magwenya: Ramaphosa optimistic after Trump meeting boosts US-SA ties
President Ramaphosa is confident SA's ties with the US have strengthened after meeting Donald Trump, opening new opportunities for trade and tariff discussions. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya during a media briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Picture: GCIS President Cyril Ramaphosa believes that South Africa's relationship with the United States has significantly improved, and that new opportunities for trade engagement have opened following his meeting with US President Donald Trump. This is what the president's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said on Thursday afternoon during a media briefing at the Union Buildings. The presidential spokesperson briefed the public on Ramaphosa's schedule and addressed key national and international issues. Ramaphosa confident SA's ties with US have strengthened Magwenya said the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) team has presented a proposal to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and that formal engagements on a new trade relationship are planned for mid to late June. 'A lot of people based their analysis of that meeting on what they saw on their TV screens in the Oval Office, and the real meat of the meeting was what transpired in the closed session,' Magwenya told journalists during the question-and-answer session of the meeting. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa mourns passing of photographer Rashid Lombard Ramaphosa's spokesperson said the president is enthused and satisfied with his discussion with Trump. He added that the president remains hopeful about the continuation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) trade scheme, but he is prepared to discuss a new trade relationship framework if necessary. Talks on trade and tariffs advance Regarding tariffs imposed on South Africa, Magwenya said the country has included the tariff issue in a proposed trade package it has submitted for consideration. 'One of the key elements of that trade relationship will be to look at the tariff regime that must be balanced in the context of working towards a mutually beneficial trade relationship,' he said. Watch Magwenya's media briefing here: Meanwhile, the question of whether Trump will be attending the G2 Summit in November remains unanswered. ALSO READ: WATCH: Malema should apologise for 'Kill the Boer' chant — Trump advisor Magwenya said Trump has not openly opposed the invitation and that it remains open. He said Ramaphosa made a strong point about the US's role in creating the G20 during his meeting with Trump. 'We are very hopeful. We are far more hopeful now than before the visit to the White House that he will attend, and hopefully we'll be able to throw in a round of golf there,' the spokesperson said. President seeks full report on Nkabane's conduct in Parliament Magwenya also addressed Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Nobuhle Nkabane's recent conduct during a committee Q&A session, where she appeared to chew bubble gum. The president has requested a detailed report on the decorum and substance of Nkabane's engagement with the portfolio committee. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa urges employers to give BEEI youths their 'next opportunity' 'The request for the report is in view of the president's expectation that ministers, deputy ministers and senior executives in the public sector conduct themselves professionally, transparently and cordially in engaging with Parliament and other accountability structures,' he said. The report is also expected to cover the process of appointing board members to the Sector Education and Training Authority. Condolences on death of Zambia's Lungu Lastly, the president has offered his condolences to Zambia's former president, Edgar Lungu, who died at 68 on Thursday. Lungu had been receiving medical care in a clinic in Pretoria for an extended period prior to his passing. 'Government, the Lungu family and the Zambian High Commission will undertake the necessary process to give effect to the wishes of the Lungu family. May President Lungu's soul rest in peace,' Magwenya said. NOW READ: Premature to claim White House encounter as a South African slam dunk
Mail & Guardian
3 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Health association takes legal action against NHI Act
File photo by James Oatway The Health Funders Association this week launched a legal challenge against the President Cyril Ramaphosa The ANC, which governed the country solely until being forced into a national coalition after the polls, says the NHI is intended to provide universal and comprehensive health coverage to all South Africans. But it has faced fierce criticism from the private healthcare sector and parties such as the Health Funders Association chief executive Thoneshan Naidoo acknowledged this week that 'South Africa needs a healthcare system that delivers equitable, quality care to all [and] we fully support that vision.' But he added: 'In its current form, and without private sector collaboration, the NHI Act is fiscally impossible and operationally unworkable, and threatens the stability of the economy and health system, impacting everyone in South Africa.' The association filed its application at the Pretoria high court, joining five other medical entities that are fighting the law. The It argued that the framework in its current form was not fiscally feasible and would also have adverse effects on South Africa's healthcare and economic outcomes. 'The steep tax increases required to fund the NHI will reduce disposable income, curb consumer spending across all sectors of the economy and may well trigger an exodus of high-income taxpayers,' it said. 'At the same time, destabilising the private healthcare sector will deter investment, put jobs at risk, and slow The association's position is premised on a report by Genesis Analytics, published this week, which showed that the 'NHI Act requires unsustainable tax increases while reducing healthcare access for medical scheme members'. It said the analysis also revealed South Africa's racially diverse medical scheme membership, in which more than 68% of members are black, Indian or coloured, and up to 83% earn less than R37 500 a month. 'The proposed NHI would, therefore, disproportionately impact working-class households who currently rely on medical schemes for quality care.' Modelling by Genesis Analysis showed that it would be impossible to raise the funds required for NHI, 'even under the most optimistic assumptions'. 'For NHI to fund a level of care equivalent to what medical scheme members currently receive, as government has indicated is the intention, the Genesis model shows that personal income tax would need to increase by 2.2 times (a 115% increase in tax) from the current average rate of 21% to an average of 46% of income.' This, it said, would push marginal tax rates in the lowest income bracket from 18% to 41%, and in the highest bracket from 45% to 68%. Building its case, the association said the Genesis model projected that more than 286 000 additional healthcare professionals would be required to fulfil the NHI vision. This is more than twice the number of general practitioners, nurses and pharmacists and three times the number of specialists. 'NHI will therefore place significant pressure on healthcare workers and addressing these capacity gaps will require significant time and investment,' the association said. Naidoo added that South Africa does not have enough skilled workers to deliver the NHI's mandate. 'By driving down service tariffs, the NHI risks accelerating the emigration or exit of healthcare professionals from the sector altogether.' The country is already facing a medical professional 'brain drain'. A survey conducted last year by the South Africa Medical Association, which represents approximately 17 000 doctors across South Africa, showed that as many as 38% of its members intended to leave the country in response to the implementation of the NHI scheme. Last month, Ramaphosa defended the Act after the Board of Healthcare Funders, which represents most private medical schemes, said he flouted his constitutional duty by failing to scrutinise its constitutionality when he signed the NHI into law. It added that the president ignored submissions that pointed to the patent constitutional defects in the legislation. The Pretoria High Court ruled in favour of the board. Ramaphosa launched an appeal, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction in the matter and erred in finding that his decision to sign the new law was reviewable. The court found no merit in his argument on the separation of powers and said the step of assenting to a Bill was but part of a lawmaking process that was a reviewable exercise in public power.
