Sihlobo focuses on the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza’s latest budget vote speech, that in his opinion was centred on the ethical and efficient implementation of the department’s programmes, as well as the collaboration with stakeholders in the agricultural sector. He says in terms of land reform little note was made in terms of the new policy. A sense of urgency on implementing land reform in a sustainable way was, however, created by Didiza in her budget vote. Sihlobo adds that Didiza intends to have close cooperation with landowners – including farmers, companies, and trusts, but there was little detail on how such an approach would be carried out. “We suspect that the reason might be because there are still ongoing consultative processes amongst policymakers following the submission of the Presidential Advisory Panel report on Land Reform and Agriculture in June.”)

That was Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Agbiz.  

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