Latest news with #LandReformandRuralDevelopment
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Urgent call to reopen poultry imports amid supply crisis
The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has urged the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to immediately resume poultry imports from countries that have declared themselves free of Avian Influenza, in line with World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has urged the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to immediately resume poultry imports from countries that have declared themselves free of Avian Influenza, in line with World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. These countries include France (February 4, 2025), Sweden (March 31, 2025), and both Denmark and Belgium (May 23, 2025). The last recorded imports from Denmark were in 2020, when South Africa imported an average of 1 384 metric tons of poultry products per month, including both poultry cuts and mechanically deboned meat (MDM). AMIE on Wednesday also welcomed the Department of Agriculture's commitment to make a determination on a partial lifting of the Brazilian import suspension by the end of this week. This would be based on the fact that the Avian Flu outbreak is contained to the Rio Grande do Sol province in Brazil. Brazilian imports are currently halted due to the Avian Influenza outbreak in Rio Grande do Sol, which produces between 10% to 15% of all poultry in that country. Since local producers are unable to meet total demand, particularly for poultry offal and MDM, which South Africa does not produce at scale, it is critical to diversify supply sources to ensure continued affordability, availability, and market stability, it said. Imameleng Mothebe, the CEO of AMIE, said: 'Opening access to each additional AI-free market will help alleviate some of the current poultry supply gap and reduce the growing economic and food security risks created by the current overall suspension of imports from Brazil. Even with a partial lifting of the suspension of imports from Brazil, there will still be a shortfall that will need to be filled in order to maintain consumption demand in our country. Opening additional markets not only fills this gap, but also future proofs South Africa against AI-related supply shortages.' South African Meat Processors Association urged the government to implement zoning (regionalisation) with all haste. "One of our members, Sky Country Meats, has already been forced to lay off almost 100 employees, with more retrenchments to follow next week if imports of MDM are not restored as a matter of absolute urgency," it said.
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
‘I want to be with the people': Limpopo mayor resigns
Many in the ANC suspected that Mangena might have felt frustrated by ANC politics of slates Former Greater Tzaneen local municipality mayor Maripe Mangena has resigned. Mangena, who was a PR councillor representing the municipality at the Mopani district municipality in Limpopo, tendered his resignation this week. The resignation letter was noted by the ANC-led council during a council sitting at the municipal chamber on Thursday. His resignation comes after the current Mopani district municipality mayor, Pule Shayi, snubbed him during his appointment of councillors three and a half years ago. Shayi won the Norman Mashabane ANC regional elective conference a fortnight ago. Mangena did not endorse Shayi at the conference. He instead supported another slate, which was opposed to Shayi's candidature for a third term. Tension Many in the ANC suspected that Mangena might have felt frustrated by ANC politics of slates, which he was allegedly opposed to. 'We are not all President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa forgave former Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha for betraying him at the 55th ANC national elective conference on 19 December 2022. 'When many called for Mathabatha's axing, the president did not act. Instead, he continued to give him [Mathabatha] a second chance to finish his term. 'Matamela [Cyril] went on to appoint Mathabatha as Deputy Minister for Land Reform and Rural Development under his Cabinet in 2024. It must be a lesson to every politician in South Africa that no leader wants to hunt with another man's dogs. 'For sure, Mangena felt he could not continue working with a man he differed with politically for the next three years. The same goes for Shayi, he may not have been comfortable working with a man who continued showing him the middle finger,' said a municipal employee at the Mopani district municipality, who asked to speak on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak with the media on the matter. Shayi was not available for comment as he was allegedly in a meeting. ALSO READ: Third Term' slate shines at Limpopo ANC elective conference 'I want to be with the people' While Mangena told The Citizen that his resignation had not yet been processed, municipal spokesperson Neville Ndlala said the resignation was noted and accepted by council on Thursday. ANC regional spokesperson Peter Ngobeni, quoted Mangena as saying: 'I want to be with the people in their daily struggles and to freely be part of their efforts for the improvement of their lives' NOW READ: Mopani water crisis sparks control call from Tzaneen mayor
IOL News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
No genocide in SA, G20 told
Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development acting director-general Nomthandazo Moyo clarifies the South African government's stance on land redistribution. Image: GCIS/ Facebook DEPARTMENT of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development acting director-general Nomthandazo Moyo has set the record straight on reports of genocide in South Africa. Moyo spoke during the opening of the G20 Development Working Group in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. Moyo said that while the country dealt with development issues, it also faced challenges and every country dealt with crime issues. Moyo also said issues of public safety were something that affected everyone, irrespective of whether they were in the south, the north or the east of the globe. As the administrator responsible for land, Moyo confirmed that there was no expropriation of land without compensation when it came to land redistribution issues and there was also restitution for those whose land was taken during apartheid. 'When we restitute the land, we buy the land from the previous owners. We don't take it by force,' Moyo said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'We do buy the land in order to give it back to those who had the land taken (away) through apartheid,' Moyo said. 'I can confirm there is no genocide. There is no deliberate action by this government to kill white people. 'We believe in humanity, we believe in one nation irrespective of race and our policies, our legislation and the application thereof embrace humanity.' Moyo said she thought that as the discussion began on development, it was crucial to remember that this development must be inclusive and non-discriminatory, regardless of race. 'We are one, whether we are black, white, Indian, coloured, we are human race,' Moyo said. The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation's director-general, Robert Nkuna said: 'The point is we did not plan genocide in the past. There is no genocide at present. There would be no genocide in future. So that is our story.' The issue of genocide in South Africa has reached foreign soil, with President Cyril Ramaphosa recently travelling to the United States to speak to US President Donald Trump. Ramaphosa told Trump that there was no white genocide in South Africa. Since the meeting with Trump, more political heads and other leaders have also said there was no genocide in the country. They include award-winning American actress Viola Davis, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, Free State Agriculture's Dr Jane Buys and former African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Citing the country's latest crime statistics, which cover the first three months of 2025, Mchunu said six murders linked to farms were recorded in the first quarter of 2025, with five of the victims being black. Mchunu emphasised that the history of farm murders in South Africa has been distorted and reported in an unbalanced way.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Clarifying land reform: No genocide against white people, G20 meeting told
Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development acting director-general Nomthandazo Moyo clarifies the South African government's stance on land redistribution. Image: GCIS/ Facebook Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development acting director-general Nomthandazo Moyo has set the record straight on reports of genocide in South Africa. Moyo was speaking during the opening of the G20 Development Working Group in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. Moyo said that while the country deals with development issues, it also faces challenges and every country deals with crime issues. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Moyo also said issues of public safety are something that affects everyone, irrespective of whether you are in the south, the north or the east of the globe. As the administrator responsible for land, Moyo confirmed that there is no expropriation of land without compensation when it comes to land redistribution issues and there is also restitution for those whose land was taken during apartheid. 'When we restitute the land, we buy the land from the previous owners. We don't take it by force,' Moyo said. She said misinformation was even being spread by the media. 'We do buy the land in order to give it back to those who had the land taken (away) through apartheid,' Moyo said. 'I can confirm there is no genocide. There is no deliberate action by this government to kill white people. 'We believe in humanity, we believe in one nation irrespective of race and our policies, our legislation and the application thereof embrace humanity.' Moyo said she thought that as the discussion begins on development, it is crucial to remember that this development must be inclusive and non-discriminatory, regardless of race. 'We are one, whether we are black, white, Indian, coloured, we are human race,' Moyo said. Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation director-general Robert Nkuna. Image: GCIS/ Facebook Adding, Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation director-general Robert Nkuna said: 'The point is we did not plan genocide in the past. There is no genocide at present. There would be no genocide in future. So that is our story.' The issue of genocide in South Africa has reached foreign soil, with President Cyril Ramaphosa recently travelling to the United States to speak to US President Donald Trump. Ramaphosa told Trump that there is no white genocide in South Africa. Since the meeting with Trump, more political heads and other leaders have also said there is no genocide in South Africa. These include award-winning American actress Viola Davis, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, Free State Agriculture's Dr Jane Buys and former African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The South African
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
NO land expropriation in South Africa THIS YEAR
South Africa's Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, has reaffirmed that no land expropriation has taken place since the Land Expropriation legislation came into effect in January 2025, dispelling fears and misinformation circulating both locally and abroad. 'There is currently no land expropriation occurring on private properties, including farms,' said Nyhontso in a departmental statement. All land acquired under government programmes for land restitution and redistribution is done through fair, transparent, and legal processes, the Minister emphasised. 'The purchase of land from previous owners, particularly white owners, is based on negotiated agreements that uphold property rights and promote inclusive development and access to land.' The Minister's remarks follow statements by US President Donald Trump, who claimed that white South Africans were being subjected to land grabs and genocide. The South African government has firmly rejected these allegations as false and inflammatory. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently met with President Trump to address these concerns, reaffirm bilateral ties, and explore investment opportunities. During the talks, Ramaphosa stressed that criminal violence affects all South Africans, not just white citizens. 'Yes, there is criminality in our country, but the majority of victims are black South Africans,' said Ramaphosa, countering Trump's assertions and underscoring the complexity of the country's crime landscape. Since the launch of South Africa's land reform programme in 1995, the government has acquired approximately 3.9 million hectares of land – representing 2.5% of the national land mass – at a cost of around R26.6 billion. This land has been repurposed for a range of developmental objectives, including agriculture, tourism, forestry, and hospitality. The Department of Land Reform stressed that its focus remains on constitutional, economically viable, and socially responsible land reform. 'Minister Nyhontso wishes to emphasise that any other information and pronouncements contrary to the government's position on land reform are mischievous, false, and misleading,' the statement concluded. As land reform continues to be a sensitive and critical issue in South Africa, officials say the government will stay committed to engagement with all stakeholders, ensuring that land redistribution remains just, transparent, and aligned with the principles of the Constitution. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
