DA provincial spokesperson for the department of agriculture, Reinette Liebenberg, says that invasions of veld and farmlands by bands of wingless nymphs have been reported over a wide area in the vicinity of Vosburg, Van Wyksvlei, Prieska, Marydale and Hopetown. According to Liebenberg, this comes as district locust officers and workers struggle to contain the growing outbreak due to a number of challenges related to the programme.

The MEC for Police, Roads and Transport in the Free State, William Bulwane, has criticised stock theft in Qwaqwa. He met with livestock owners, shepherds, the police, and traditional leaders in Phuthaditjhaba to heed stock theft challenges that are faced by owners. The MEC accused the police of dragging their feet when it comes to searching for stock theft suspects. This follows livestock owners' outcries that police should act swiftly to look for their stock after they're reported missing. Bulwane warned herd owners of employing herd shepherds from Lesotho. He said nearly all of the owners hire unknown shepherds who later rob their employers.

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The North West Department of Agriculture’s MEC, Desbo Mohono, encourages farmers to apply for permits as a prerequisite to participate in the hemp industry. The application process is open to all interested groups and individuals. According to a statement released by the department, the hemp permit process follows the Cabinet's decision taken in 2019 to have a plan for industrialisation and commercialisation of cannabis in order to increase economic growth, create jobs and alleviate poverty. Mohono says that the legalisation and commercialisation of cannabis has been on the forefront of public debate and on top of the agenda of policymakers globally. As a role player, the North West agricultural department organised a webinar last year to engage stakeholders in a collaborative effort to advance the Cannabis Masterplan Implementation process.

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