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The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Alleged animal abuse at university farm: Stellenbosch students under investigation
Stellenbosch University (SU) is facing an investigation by the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) after Farmer's Weekly was alerted to the alleged inhumane treatment of animals at the SU's experimental farm. Students allegedly 'sped up' taking of manure and urine samples During trials conducted by students in SU's Department of Animal Sciences to test the nutritional uptake of feed, sheep were allegedly near-suffocated with plastic bags to force them to release their bowels. Manure and urine samples needed to be collected for the tests, but rather than wait for the sheep to defecate naturally, it is alleged that students attempted to speed up the process. As it is common for animals to release their bowels moments before they die, the plastic bags were quickly removed after the animals defecated to prevent them from dying. The report was made to Farmer's Weekly on condition of anonymity. It further stated that animals in the facilities had at times gone without water and food. Whistleblower blames post-graduate students The whistleblower said that all students that had to perform tests on animals were trained in the ethical treatment of animals. 'There are clear guidelines about how the animals must be treated. This includes ensuring that they have enough water and food, and that no animal may be pulled by their legs or ears. The students involved in the allegations are those that did not obtain their degrees at SU but are doing their post-graduate studies there. Perhaps other universities are not as strict on animal welfare,' they said. NSPCA monitoring investigation The NSPCA has since engaged directly with SU, escalating the matter to the university's Research Ethics Committee: Animal Care and Use. The university has initiated an internal investigation and disciplinary processes. Jacques Peacock, communications manager at the NSPCA, said the council was monitoring the investigation. 'If the conduct is verified, it would raise serious animal welfare concerns. 'Forcing an animal to defecate or urinate through suffocation or near-suffocation is not an acceptable practice and could constitute an offence under the Animals Protection Act. Any research or testing involving animals in South Africa must comply with both national animal welfare legislation and research standards,' he said. No animals in immediate danger – university Martin Viljoen, media manager at SU, said that the matter was of grave concern to the university. He noted that the complaint was under investigation and that SU could not comment on what steps were being taken against the students involved. 'As a matter of urgency, the committee has established that no animals are currently in immediate danger,' he added. 'All students and researchers involved in the use of animals for scientific purposes are annually trained in ethics and integrity by relevant experts and committees. All animals are under strict veterinary supervision.' Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Oil price hikes could squeeze SA farmers amid US-Iran conflict fallout
While the full fallout of the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites remains unclear, economist Dawie Roodt, the chief economist at the Efficient Group, told Farmer's Weekly it could ripple through oil prices and the exchange rate, which in turn would impact broader economic growth. 'Geopolitical instability and conflict in oil-producing regions, such as Iran, typically lead to a short-term oil price hike, which pushes fuel prices higher,' Roodt said. 'The effects could take days to several months to materialise, but we may see an increase of say 50c in the coming month, followed by another 20c hike the month after. Prices usually stabilise after the peak and often return, or even drop, to below pre-crisis levels.' The Central Energy Fund already reported an under-recovery of about 55c for petrol ULP, 51c for petrol 93 ULP and LRP, 79c for diesel (0,05%) and 81c for diesel (0,0005%) between May 30 and Monday. Fuel prices could spike far more dramatically and remain elevated for longer if the conflict disrupts oil production or hampers oil trade, particularly if the Strait of Hormuz — through which nearly 20% of the world's oil flows — is threatened or closed. 'We have seen what happens when major oil producers in the Middle East intentionally cut supply. In such cases, oil prices could potentially almost double to reach US$130 (about R2 300) a barrel, which could result in a R3/ℓ fuel price hike,' Roodt said. Such a sharp rise would have significant global repercussions, driving up inflation and interest rates, which would, in turn, impact global economic growth. This would be particularly bad news for South African agriculture, by pushing up the cost of fuel, fertiliser and other essential input prices, while increasing transport expenses — especially if alternative, longer sea routes had to be used because of the conflict. Additionally, weaker global economic growth would likely dent demand for agricultural exports, as consumers abroad would have less disposable income, according to Roodt. Roodt said a similar pattern usually ensued with the rand. 'We generally see the rand weakening in response to these types of geopolitical conflict, stabilise, and then move back to where it was.' Wandile Sihlobo, the chief economist at Agbiz, told Farmer's Weekly the South African agriculture sector was highly exposed to rising shipping and transportation costs, exchange rate fluctuations and the impact of geopolitical tension on trade, as roughly 98% of agro-chemicals and 80% of fertiliser and machinery were imported. The recently announced ceasefire between Israel and Iran was a positive movement, according to him, but risks nevertheless remained that could continue to impact the exchange rate and oil prices. 'Our hope is for oil prices and the exchange rate to normalise at least from October onwards, when the summer planting season and the winter harvest seasons start and the industry uses higher volumes of fuel,' he said. He noted that fuel and fertiliser represented 13% and 30%, respectively, of grain farmers' input costs. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
SA macadamia crop to double within next decade
Despite challenges such as US tariffs, South Africa is positioning itself even more strongly as the world's leading macadamia producer, according to Alex Whyte, director of the Green Farms Nut Company. Despite recent market volatility and price pressures, South Africa's macadamia nut industry is on track to double its production over the next decade, positioning itself even more strongly as the world's leading producer of the high-value nut, Farmer's Weekly reports. This is according to Alex Whyte, director of the Green Farms Nut Company. The company was South Africa's first privately owned processing facility and has over 40 years of macadamia industry experience. Whyte told Farmer's Weekly the long-term outlook remains strong despite recent setbacks: 'The low prices experienced between 2022 and 2024 have slowed down the crop growth somewhat. We have seen some farmers remove orchards and also reduce inputs, which has reduced the yield. 'The industry might be coming in slightly under the forecast of 95 500t for 2025. That figure was done in March, and macadamias are notoriously difficult to predict. But we should still be somewhere between 90 000t and 94 000t. 'We are, however, still more likely to see the crop doubling over the next 10 years.' Figures from the International Nut Council show South Africa is by far the largest producer globally of macadamia nuts: South Africa 89 200t (2024), 95 500t (2025) China 69 500t (2024), 74 500t (2025) Australia 53 950t (2024), 56 890t (2025) Kenya 44 000t (2024), 47 500t (2025) USA 15 000t (2024), 15 500t (2025) There are between 1 300 and 1 500 macadamia nut farmers in South Africa, with the average-sized macadamia farm being around 50ha. The main growing regions are northeast Limpopo, eastern Mpumalanga (the largest), the coastal region of KwaZulu-Natal and George in the Western Cape. 95% of local macadamias for export While there has been a steady increase in domestic demand, South Africa currently exports around 95% of its macadamia nut production, said Whyte. 'Traditionally, China has taken approximately 50% of the crop, with the US about 25%, Europe 15% and the rest made up of the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Canada and South America. 'The proposed new tariffs from the US have had a negative impact but it seems it was mainly as a result of the uncertainty surrounding it. The fact is the US does not produce enough macadamias of their own and they will need to import some volume from the rest of the world, including South Africa.' Whyte said the macadamia nut industry in South Africa is still young and there is room for even more growth and innovation. 'There is a lot of work still to be done on horticultural practices but also to improve the processing at factory level and market development. Consumer awareness is still very low as we don't have the huge budgets some of the other tree nuts have. However, the industry has made great strides, with South African factories being considered world class. 'Apart from the raw nut, there are various other derivatives. Macadamia oil is a wonderful product that is increasing in popularity. We have also started making high-quality eco-wood from crushed macadamia shells. Macadamia kernel is a fantastic ingredient in baked goods, ice cream and confectionery. Macadamias are truly a South African success story.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
14-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Stock theft deals major economic blow to SA's agri sector
While stock theft has seemingly declined in the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, the battle against the scourge, which has cost the agriculture sector billions, continues, Farmer's Weekly reports. The decline of almost 9% in national stock theft cases in the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year compared with the corresponding period in 2023/24 is no reason for optimism, according to Willie Clack, a farmer in North West and senior lecturer at the School for Criminal Justice at UNISA. He added that the economic losses caused by the crime remains of great concern. 'I do not believe in quarterly statistics as they fluctuate too much and can create false impressions,' Clack said. According to official statistics, the stock theft of cattle, sheep and goats has cost the country over R7 billion over the past five years. The cost per financial year has been broken down as follows: 2020/21: R1 185 118 700 2021/22: R1 210 939 100 2022/23: R1 275 954 200 2023/24: R1 380 267 000 2024/25: R1 269 999 000 Clack told Farmer's Weekly that even though these were official figures, the actual cost was unknown due to the non-reporting of crimes. 'If you do not report [the] crime, you are part of the problem and not the solution. Since 2018/19, the number of cases reported per year has been in decline,' he said. In a paper on livestock theft in South Africa, published in the International Journal of Rural Criminology in 2024, Clack said that this crime posed a significant challenge to the agriculture sector in the country, impacting farmers' livelihoods, food security and economic stability. Substantial impact With approximately 69% of South Africa's land surface being primarily suitable for grazing, livestock farming was the largest contributor to the country's agricultural GDP. Dr Siphe Zantsi, an agricultural economist at the Agricultural Research Council, said that this was why the economic impact of stock theft on South Africa was substantial. 'According to the 2024 Economic Review of South African Agriculture, animal products accounted for 43,2% of the total value of agricultural production, amounting to [around R200 billion]. The figures [above thus] only reflect the direct monetary losses,' said Zantsi. 'There are numerous intangible and often overlooked costs, including the loss of breeding value and long-term genetic investment. Stud breeders invest years in improving bloodlines, and the loss of even a single animal can disrupt generations of work. 'In many communal areas, livestock represents a form of wealth and retirement security. Many individuals work in urban areas with the hope of returning to a sustainable herd later in life. For instance, two farmers I interviewed in Mthatha (Eastern Cape) each lost 90% of their herds (about 100 sheep) in a single night. One of them developed hypertension and diabetes following the incident, and both expressed a profound discouragement to continue farming.' Addressing stock theft effectively requires a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach that involves government, farmers, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and agribusinesses, said Zantsi. 'Key actions should include, amongst others, market regulation with informal meat markets and abattoirs being regularly audited to prevent the sale of stolen livestock; permit enforcement whereby SAPS and traffic officers monitor livestock movement and validate permits in collaboration with local agricultural departments; [and] syndicate research into organised stock theft to develop more targeted prevention strategies.' Syndicate crime Meanwhile, Louis Wessels, chairperson of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum, said that stock theft was a crime run by syndicates. '[While] there are instances of pot slagtery [slaughtering for consumption], large numbers of animals are stolen and transported to the main metropolitan centres. 'We have rolled out a stock theft reporting system to collect information and identify trends and syndicated operations. The required reports and information are made available to the national and provincial Stock Theft Prevention Forums. The system makes provision for capturing reports without a CAS number in order to identify [cases of] under-reporting and the potential reasons thereof.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Daily Maverick
01-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Cannabis Expo shows how private sector is rolling in face of hazy government policy
The Cannabis Expo underlined the energy of private businesses that are forging ahead with investment, sales and job creation in the face of dazed and confused government policy that appears to have been crafted over a bong. Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall' blared from the DJ's stage and the sweet aroma of cannabis hung in the crisp autumn air at 10.50 on a Saturday morning. On its second of three days, the Cannabis Expo was in full swing at the Sandton Convention Centre, which bent its rules to allow for a 'smoking' section outside, which was mostly a toking section. Cannabis consumers are generally a laid-back bunch, but the expo underlined the energy of private businesses that are forging ahead with investment, sales and job creation in the face of dazed and confused government policy that appears to have been crafted over a bong. There were more than 100 exhibitors from South Africa and abroad, showcasing — and hawking — everything from edibles to rolling gadgets to water bongs to plant fertilisers. On the main stage, panels discussed subjects such as 'Women & Weed: Wellness, Empowerment and The Female Body', 'Potential Cannabis Commercialisation Benefits', and 'How to Choose The Right Cannabis Product for You'. The times they are a'changin', and tellingly, Farmer's Weekly had a stand. Cannabis is, after all, grown, and if the government could grasp this low-hanging fruit, the agricultural sector could reap a bountiful harvest. But the surging commercial sector for cannabis products is unfolding beneath a haze of legal and regulatory uncertainty. This genie was freed from the bottle by the landmark Constitutional Court decision in 2018 that, in effect, legalised the recreational use of cannabis — as an adult South African, it is your constitutional right to consume cannabis. In May 2024, the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act gave the green light for adults to consume, cultivate and possess cannabis for private use — but it leaves the cannabis commercialisation on display in Sandton this past weekend in the dark. One factor that undermines efforts to get a clear and straightforward policy is the lack of a single industry body to represent commercial cannabis interests. 'The industry itself is not represented. There is not a single industry body that represents every facet of the cannabis industry. This makes it virtually impossible to make representation on behalf of the industry,' advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan, the CEO of Trikar Enterprise Solutions, told Daily Maverick on the sidelines of the expo. That is a clarion call for a Cannabis Council to take up the cudgels. What this means Billions of rands in investment and tax revenue are going up in smoke because of government — read ANC — inertia on what should be a straightforward policy. If you are an adult who consumes cannabis and buys from one of the many retail outlets that are springing up all over the show, the vast majority of your purchases are technically illegal. Buying such products with your card also means that South Africa's banks are involved in illicit sales. Crafting policy to allow for the effective commercialisation of a sector that is already forging ahead is crucial. Brett Pollack, a lawyer who heads Harambe Solutions, told Daily Maverick that the industry was '… moving along ahead of government without the laws in place. So right now we are in a liminal space. We don't have a commercial framework, which is exactly what we need to build an economy out of this.' But an economy — one that is not yet subject to sin taxes for THC consumption — is indeed growing in the shade of perplexing policy. And things are rolling along, in some cases quite literally. At the stand for Pretoria-based Aaptwak Foundation & Club — basically, a cannabis club — Walter Pretorius displayed his skills in the fine art of speed rolling. The rules are simple: the paper can be pre-licked with a filter (if you choose) and everything prepared beforehand. It just has to be smokeable to qualify as complete. He was clearly a practised hand. On his rolling platform, this correspondent watched Pretorius three times over the course of the morning. His first go was a warm-up that took more than six seconds to complete — think of Usain Bolt warming up for the 100m dash. The third time I witnessed Pretorius in action (see video), it took him 3.52 seconds to roll a joint. If you blinked, you might have missed it. Walter also displayed an 80g monster joint that was longer than most of the trout this angling correspondent has caught in a lifetime of fishing. Presumably, that would have taken a little longer than 3.52 seconds to roll. By contrast, government policy on this front is moving at a snail's pace. It is another brick in a wall of what should be a window of transparency with the sunlight shining on a field of dreams. DM
