The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, told OFM News on Monday that the department’s unit that deals with animal welfare investigated conditions on the ship before it left the East London Harbour. Didiza attended the African Farmer’s Association of South Africa's (AFASA) third Agri-Business Transformation Conference outside Bloemfontein and mentioned the consignment when she spoke about establishing new international trade opportunities by identifying new markets and expand existing markets for the country’s agricultural goods.    

Didiza says the consignment of sheep to Kuwait is a good example of that, while discussions with China has led to that country indicating it wants to import more agricultural products from South Africa. “China wants our beef,” she said. This is as a result of the department working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry to identify new markets for South African goods.

OFM News’ Christal-Lize Muller spoke to Didiza…

See PODCAST below

That was Thoko Didiza, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. 

Meanwhile, the National Council of SPCAs, the NSPCA, indicated it is going to lay charges in terms of the Animals Protection Act against the South African government, including the Eastern Cape provincial government.

OFM News