Is there an agreement?
After lengthy discussions following the violent farm worker protests in the Western Cape, Agri SA said that no agreement was reached regarding any minimum wage level.
Vigilant – but no further wage strikes expected
Farmers in the Western Cape will remain on high alert throughout December. This follows after violent strikes that erupted in November, with protesters demanding higher wages for farm workers.
Agri MEC moves on wastage and spending irregularities
Irregular expenditure at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (DAEA) has been exposed, with dumped agricultural equipment and inputs worth over R5 million discovered at the department’s office...
Fracking can be managed – New Zealand
A New Zealand inquiry into fracking found that the environmental risks associated with the procedure could be effectively managed, provided best practices were enforced through regulation.
Agri SA asks for a national prayer day
Agri SA president Johannes Möller has called on all church denominations to use Sunday, 16 December 2012 as a national day of prayer for a violence-free society;
Controlling acid mine drainage in the Western Basin not enough
Acid mine drainage (AMD) decant at the Western Basin in Gauteng is slowly being brought under control, with the flow halted. Mariette Liefferink, CEO...
Appeal court ruling on water transfers welcomed
Agri SA welcomed the Appeal Court ruling between Goede Wellington Boerdery (Pty) Ltd and Atwell Sibusiso Makhanya and the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs on an application to transfer...
The Minister of Labour called for calm during farmworker protests
The Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, has asked workers who took part in an industrial action for higher wages and better working conditions to conduct themselves peacefully.
Agri Mega opens its doors in Gauteng
Believing that agriculture on the African continent could soon be facing a wave of growth and prosperity, has led Agri Mega to open an office in Pretoria in Gauteng recently,...
Poor working conditions in forestry come under the spotlight
Poor working conditions of forestry workers, who were mostly contracted on a minimum wage for physically demanding work, increased the possibility of strikes similar to those on mines and Western...
Disaster in Northern Cape as fire destroys rangelands
A 12-day fire destroyed 215 000ha on the Ghaap plateau in the Northern Cape last month, leaving stricken farmers with no grazing. Annelie Coleman reports.
Slight relief in fuel prices
All grades of petrol will be 9c/l cheaper as from Wednesday 5 December and the price of diesel will decrease by between 5c/l and 6c/l.
North West fisheries programme launched
The North West department of agriculture recently launched its Aquaculture and Fisheries Programme at Disaneng Dam near Mahikeng.
‘Not all crimes on farms are farm attacks’
Free State Agriculture (FSA) has argued that a distinction should be made between criminal incidents on farms and farm attacks.
Rhino poaching keeps rising
The total number of rhinos lost to poaching since the beginning of this year stood at 588, with 246 suspects being arrested.
Joemat-Pettersson guilty of reckless spending
Unconscionably excessive, reckless and unethical was how the public protector, Thuli Madonsela described agricultural minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson’s spending.
Large injection for sustainable agriculture
Sustainable farming in South Africa has been given a boost by Nedbank which announced that it would invest R8,3 million in the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa’s (WWF-SA)...
Western Cape should focus on high value products
Population growth and rapid urbanisation will lead to a strong increase in the demand for food globally which means that the future looks bright for agriculture, but there are many...
Conflicting reports on de-gazetting of Gongolo claim
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the apparent imminent de-gazetting of the Gongolo restitution land claim in KwaZulu-Natal, which 10 years after being gazetted, has not been resolved.
Farmers use their wits and IT to track suspect
Farmers in KZN’s Estcourt area made headlines recently when they assisted police in tracking down a man on 4 November who allegedly stabbed his wife and sister-in-law before fleeing with...
