Agri-SA’s executive director Christo van der Rheede tells OFM News that South Africa is not policy bankrupt but that remains challenged by effectivity and efficiency in the implementation of policies. This, in conjunction with the president’s four-point focus plan.

Van Der Rheede says that agriculture and the value chain remain critical players as contributors to the GDP and should continually receive support.

Acknowledging that the newly announced national minimum wage will have a detrimental impact on the provision of jobs should not go unmentioned, says Van der Rheede. Moreover prior to the recent rainfall, many farmers have experienced prolonged periods of drought and the pandemic has had an immeasurable impact on many subsectors, thus impacting employment immensely.

He adds that accelerating the conviction of crimes has remained an important aspect of successfully realising this feat.

In closing,  Van der Rheede said: “The road ahead remains a challenging prospect and in order for us as a nation to weather the storm as well as set ourselves on a desirable trajectory, government needs to start coming to the party with the implementation of all these and other focus points”.

OFM News

OFM News/Shirndré-Lee Simmons