VIEWPOINT- South Africa farmers will get a new Minister of Agriculture.

: Viewpoint - General; 18 June 2026; Hits: 361; Rating:

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John Steenhuisen has been removed as Minister of Agriculture. He will be replaced by Willie Aucamp, the current Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.Steenhuisen’s tenure as Agriculture Minister was marked by intense criticism from farmers and industry groups, particularly over his handling of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD / BKS) outbreak.

He faced further backlash following an internal email by his chief of staff, Jana le Roux, in which a request for a meeting by the pressure group FMD Response SA was reportedly dismissed in an “amusing” or condescending manner. Steenhuisen distanced himself from the email and issued an apology.It is understood that Steenhuisen will be moved to the position of Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry as part of a broader DA cabinet reshuffle.Many farmers initially had high hopes when Steenhuisen was appointed, but trust eroded due to unfulfilled promises and the prolonged FMD crisis, which has caused massive financial losses for the livestock sector.

Over the years, it has been proven that farmers will strongly support their Minister of Agriculture if the minister supports them in return. Farmers are loyal, hardworking people who are deeply committed to what they do. However, when promises are made but not kept, trust quickly begins to erode.Farmers and their families are the salt of the earth. There was genuine hope in the agricultural community when John Steenhuisen was appointed.

The disease outbreak has become one of the most serious livestock health emergencies in recent years, affecting cattle producers, disrupting trade, and threatening the livelihoods of farmers across several provinces. Much of the criticism has centred on the management of vaccine procurement and distribution, with many industry groups arguing that greater private-sector participation could have accelerated vaccination efforts and improved disease control.

Legal challenges also emerged after livestock organisations challenged restrictions on private vaccination programmes. Court rulings and ongoing legal proceedings have further increased scrutiny of the department's response and decision-making processes.

John Steenhuisen tumbles off his high horse

Apart from the challenges, Steenhuisen also worked hard to open new export markets and signed several important trade agreements for South African agricultural products of some was already in place. Unfortunately, his tenure was overshadowed by the prolonged Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) crisis. Many farmers and industry role-players are still wondering what happened to the R500 million that went missing, after Steenhuisen had publicly promised to investigate and resolve the matter after he become Minister.

It is also important to note that the Department of Agriculture played a major role in many of the challenges, and it is widely known that the department is not an easy environment to work in.There may be many factors and truths behind the scenes that the public is not aware of. Nevertheless, the time has come for a new minister.

Wishing John Steenhuisen all the best going forward. "Thank you for your service and the contribution you made to agriculture in South Africa."

As South Africa's livestock industry continues to battle the outbreak, the effectiveness of future leadership and the speed of implementation will play a crucial role in determining how quickly the sector can recover and restore confidence both locally and internationally. The proposed leadership changes are being presented as part of an effort to strengthen government performance, improve accountability, and restore confidence within the agricultural sector. A new minister would be expected to focus on resolving the FMD crisis, rebuilding trust with industry stakeholders, addressing legal disputes, and accelerating practical measures to contain the outbreak.

Willie Aucamp is reportedly very popular among game farmers and other agricultural groups. He will now have to prove himself in the position and show what he is capable of. Farmers need to trust the minister and they will fight with you. "Without farmers in any master plan, you won’t have food on the table or a workable plan."

South African farmers have suffered millions of rands in losses due to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak, which remains unresolved.

BUT- As we understand it, the Honorable President Ramaphosa has the final say. It could go either way — we may see another scenario unfold." Do not get to excited yet-we need to wait until Friday- and we all know that power and control are the first price.

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VIEWPOINT- South Africa farmers will get a new Minister of Agriculture.

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