Zimasa Mbewu, spokesperson of the department, says the police's stock theft unit and the department have been working closely together in this regard. She says upon investigation it was established the farmer did not produce the necessary paperwork and did not make early arrangements to have the auction of mostly cattle on his farm. OFM has learnt that there were cattle and sheep from more than two sources that were offered for sale on the farm. This comes after a temporary national ban has been placed on the gathering and movement of cloven hoofed animals from two or more sources to following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth-decease in Limpopo. This affects the auction and exhibition of animals. Meanwhile the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development in the province has confirmed that an auction took place.  Due to the sensitivity of the investigation OFM News is withholding the details of the farmer and the auction houses involved.  

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The South African wool industry last year  experience a tough year following the temporary ban of exports by China. Wanile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber, Agbiz, says  China, accounts for an average of 71% of South Africa’s wool exports in value terms and this country placed a ban following the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in Limpopo. He says this lasted for months and weighed on the farmers’ finances. He says the Chinese share in South Africa’s wool exports also fell to the lowest level in nine years – at 55%. Together with that the countries where South Africa saw its wool exports expanding were mainly the Czech Republic, Italy, India and Bulgaria.  These are however small markets with China remaining an important market for South African  wool. Sihlobo says fortunately, South Africa’s wool exports to China has resumed, and if that continues with minimal interruptions while this year could show some level of recovery from 2019 levels.

OFM News