The most severe effect is, however, felt by the red meat industry. Didiza's response comes after an alleged auctioneer, Sors Snyman, was arrested for the alleged contravention of the Animals Diseases Act of 1984 after he knowingly bought cloven-hoofed animals, in the Molemole district,  moved the animals out of this FMD controlled areas and sold those animals at various auctions at Mogwadi and Vivo. Spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo says Didiza applauded police for their swift response. Snyman appeared in the Mogwadi Magistrate's Court on Monday and was released on R10 000 bail. He is expected back in court on March 23.

More maize has been planted this season in summer crop production areas of the country. This comes after the Crop Estimates Committee yesterday released the preliminary area estimate for maize which stands at more than 2,5 million hectares. This is about 10,21% more than the 2,3 million hectares planted in the previous season. It is also 0,64%  hectares more than the intention to plant figure of 2,519 million hectares released in October last year. The preliminary area estimate for white maize is 1,515 million hectares which is an increase of 17,67% compared to the hectares planted last season. The area estimate for yellow maize is 1,02 million hectares, which is also more than the planted area last season. An agricultural economist at Grain SA, Petru Fourie, says the increase in the preliminary area estimate for maize was expected due to good rain conditions during the planting period in most maize production areas.  

AND

Thousands of land claims that were lodged before the 1998-deadline have not been settled 20 years later. This is according to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. The department said in a written reply – on a question tabled in parliament – a total of 8940 claims still need to be settled. Outstanding claims also need to be verified by an external audit, which could increase or decrease the number of claims. The department said the Commission on Restitution of Lands Rights has put together a strategy to reduce the backlog for settlement of all old order land claims. It is not clear yet how many of these outstanding claims are in Central South Africa.

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