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South Africa enters 2026 facing deep structural challenges that deter investment, fuel debate, and threaten everyday essentials like food security, clean water, and economic opportunity.Former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter has sharply criticised race-based policies such as BEE and affirmative action, alongside close ties with authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, and Iran, as major obstacles to foreign direct investment—the lifeblood needed for growth and jobs. He warns that investors have plenty of options and little patience for perceived hurdles, urging bold reforms to restore confidence.Meanwhile, the signing of the Expropriation Act in Q1 2025 sparked fierce debate, yet analysis shows over 84% of land reform targets have already been met—far more than commonly believed. Over 30 years, nearly 85 million hectares changed hands through market transactions (R621 billion) and 35 million hectares via transfers, totalling 19.5 million hectares redistributed. The real issue isn't lack of progress on farmland (where most gains occurred) but underutilised productive land amid hunger, rapid urbanisation (from 56% in 1994 to ~68% in 2024, heading to >80% by 2050), and shrinking agricultural space (-4.3% already). Better urban planning and utilisation of existing resources, not more expropriation, hold the key.On the trade front, EU authorities delayed ratification of the EU-Mercosur deal until January 2026 on 19 December 2025. The agreement would eliminate tariffs on ~90% of goods over 12 years, with quotas for South American agricultural imports—raising fears among European farmers of unfair competition.Closer to home, the annual citizen water testing survey reveals alarming poor water quality nationwide, pointing to a potential health crisis driven by untreated or poorly treated wastewater. Tests detected high levels of E. coli (indicating faecal contamination), nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates—immediate risks from sewage pollution that demand urgent infrastructure fixes.As the festive season arrives, these interconnected issues—investment barriers, land misconceptions, trade pressures, and basic service failures—highlight the need for pragmatic solutions over ideology. South Africans deserve policies that attract capital, optimise resources, protect health, and ensure food on the table. Here's to a 2026 focused on real progress.
Die studiegroep het nogal altyd probeer om `n leersame omgewing vir sy lede te bied, dalk nie altyd op die konvesionele manier van klaskamers en dosente nie. Ons verkies eerder die lande en `n profielgat en dan ‘n braai na die tyd. Die studiegroep was nog nooit oorsee as `n groep nie en die beplanning het altyd net by praat gebly. Na `n baie suksevolle toer Kaap toe in September 2022 waar ‘n fabriek en `n gemengde boerdery met `n groot melkery en saaiery besoek is, het die lede al meer gevoel die tyd is reg om iets buite die landsgrense aan te durf. LEES MEER -
Weekly Health News Quanlim Life LifeIselect -17th December 2025
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South Africa -Weeklikse Landbou Nuusoorsig - Weekly Agriculture News Summary 17th December 2025
INTERNASIONALE NUUS- INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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Summary of the Weeks Headline news- ( Our mediums is overloaded with Farming and Agriculture news and we have great interest from International medium.)
AGRI NEWS NET- LANDBOU NUUSNET- 21/12/1025
Early Morning Headline news
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a seasonal outlook for December 2025–April 2026, warning of potential risks from a weak La Niña pattern, which typically brings above-normal rainfall to north-eastern regions (Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, parts of North West and Free State).
Die Rooivleisprodusente-organisasie (RPO) bestempel 2025 as een van die moeilikste jare in die onlangse geskiedenis van die Suid-Afrikaanse rooivleisbedryf, hoofsaaklik weens die ergste bek-en-klouseer (BKS)-uitbreking in jare, wat ses provinsies getref het en ekonomiese verliese van meer as R3 miljard veroorsaak het.
The Fertilizer Use Efficiency (FUE) of urea currently stands at 30 percent. This means that out of the 31.4 million tons produced, only 9.42 million tons are utilized by crops, while the remainder contaminates our groundwater, rivers, and ponds. The presence of nitrates in drinking water and food is concerning, and soils are losing fertility due to diminished biodiversity.
Die ondertekening van die Onteieningswet in Q1 2025 het hewige debat ontketen, maar 'n ontleding toon dat meer as 84% van grondhervormingsdoelwitte reeds bereik is—ver bo algemene persepsies.
India's rice production is forecast to reach a record 152 million tonnes in the 2025-26 crop/marketing season, according to the latest USDA outlook released in mid-December 2025.
Sewe olifante is in Indië dood in 'n botsing met 'n passasierstrein. Die voorval het in die noordoostelike deelstaat Assam gebeur. Die treinbestuurder het probeer stilhou, maar die kudde het na die trein gehardloop. Die trein was op pad na Delhi.
African agriculture does not lack potential — it lacks the right kind of funding. For too long, smallholder and emerging commercial farmers have been subjected to loan structures that mirror commercial banking — high-interest debt, rigid repayment windows, and collateral demands they can’t meet. Meanwhile, financiers face high default risk and poor visibility into production realities.
Former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter warns that South Africa's race-based policies (BEE and affirmative action) and close ties with authoritarian regimes (China, Russia, Iran) are major barriers to foreign direct investment, crucial for economic growth and jobs.
’n Wetenskaplike van die Suid-Afrikaanse Weerdiens voorspel dat ’n swak La Niña-toestand nog ’n maand of twee die reënval oor veral die sentrale, oostelike en noordoostelike dele van die land sal beïnvloed, met bogemiddelde reënval waarskynlik gedurende middelsomer (Desember–Februarie).
South Africa is on track for another potential record soybean harvest in 2025/26, with early forecasts nearing 3 million tonnes, driven by a seventh consecutive year of expanded planting to 1.18 million hectares (+27% over five years) and favourable weather with abundant sunshine in key regions.
Reptielsmokkelary is die tweede grootste onwettige handel ter wêreld ná dwelmhandel, en internasionale sindikate teiken toenemend Suid-Afrika se unieke reptiele as eksotiese troeteldiere vir markte in Europa en China.
Many crop failures attributed to external factors like weather or markets often stem from suboptimal farm management. Farmers hold significant control over outcomes through consistent application of Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs).Key practices include:Effective weed management to reduce competition for resources
Die regering het kommer uitgespreek oor voorspellings van gure en gevaarlike weerstoestande oor die feestyd. Volgens die weerdiens word daar in die volgende weke bo-gemiddelde reënval en gereelde donderstorms oor groot dele van die land verwag, veral oor die Hoëveld en in die oostelike provinsies. Die diens sê dit is weens die La Nina-weerverskynsel, en die bo-gemiddelde reënval kan die volgende twee maande kan tot in die laat somer voortduur.
Fertiliser markets remained generally stable this week as trading quietened ahead of the holidays, with South African ex-warehouse prices easing slightly by around 0.8% for urea granular (R7,604/t), MAP (R13,044/t), and KCl granular (R6,748/t). Cost per kg of nutrient followed suit: nitrogen R16.53, phosphate R49.45, and potash R13.50—all down 0.8% week-on-week.
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