Star 2026-02-09

South Africa has marked a major milestone in animal health and biosecurity with the handover of the first batch of locally produced Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines in more than two decades, as the country battles a widespread outbreak of the highly contagious disease. The Agricultural Research Council’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR) on Friday officially handed over the vaccines to Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, describing the achievement as a breakthrough for the country’s livestock industry and food security. ARC said the release of the vaccine represents a significant step forward in reducing South Africa’s reliance on imported vaccines while strengthening its capacity to respond rapidly to outbreaks. FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, and outbreaks can have devastating economic effects, including trade disruptions, movement restrictions…

The Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) has confirmed the resignation of CEO, Themba Rikhotso, who will be taking up a role at another South African banking institution. Rikhotso joined the Land Bank on 1 April 2023 and will remain in the bank’s employ for the duration of his notice period, which runs until the end of April 2026. He holds a BCom degree and an MBL, and has completed executive development programs at both GIBS and Wharton. He assumed leadership during a particularly challenging period for the Land Bank as the bank had experienced serious liquidity challenges after failing to repay about R50 billion maturing loans. However, Rikhotso provided steady and focused leadership during a critical phase of the bank’s stabilisation. Under his tenure, the…

Framework agreement grants South Africa zero-tariff access on 100% of tariff lines for its exports to China China has signalled a strong appetite to scale up investment in South Africa, calling on Pretoria to further improve facilitation and policy support for Chinese companies operating in the country, following the signing of a new China–South Africa economic partnership agreement. The appeal came as the two countries on Friday concluded the China–Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development, a framework agreement that will grant South Africa zero-tariff access on 100% of tariff lines for its exports to China, in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. While the trade benefits are significant, Chinese officials were explicit that the agreement is also intended to unlock a new phase of investment-led cooperation. Chinese Minister of…

The possible nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the US Federal Reserve could have far-reaching consequences for South Africa and other emerging markets, an expert has warned, as global investors reassess the future direction of US monetary policy. Kristof Kruger, senior fixed income trader at Prescient Securities, said on Friday that the US Federal Reserve plays a decisive role in shaping global interest rate trends, with direct spillover effects for countries such as South Africa. “When the Fed is hawkish or keeps rates higher for longer, global money tends to flow back to the US," Kruger said. "That puts pressure on emerging markets like South Africa through a weaker rand, higher bond yields, and tighter financial conditions. When the Fed turns more dovish, the opposite happens —…

South Africa’s agricultural machinery sales got off to a positive start in January 2026, with tractor sales rising sharply year-on-year, reflecting cautious optimism among farmers despite mixed rainfall patterns and softer commodity prices. Figures released on Friday by the South African Agricultural Machinery Association (SAAMA) show that 517 tractors were sold in January, a 13% increase compared with the 457 units sold in January 2025, according to SAAMA chairperson Willie Human. Sales of combine harvesters remained unchanged, with five units sold, the same as in the corresponding month last year. Human said the current summer cropping season has been a “mixed bag”, with uneven rainfall distribution and varying planting times across regions. “Overall, the summer crops are looking good, but farmers will only know their production once these crops have…

In November 2016, India invalidated 86% of its circulating currency overnight. The policy was justified as a strike against black money, counterfeit notes and illicit finance. What followed was one of the largest real-world monetary experiments of the modern era. Research summarised by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that demonetisation caused a sharp, short-term contraction in economic activity, with declines in employment and consumption concentrated in cash-dependent sectors. Subsequent disclosures by the Reserve Bank of India showed that more than 99% of the invalidated notes ultimately returned to the banking system. The episode revealed a structural truth: when cash liquidity is abruptly withdrawn, the first casualties are not criminal networks, but ordinary economic coordination.That experience was not an anomaly. It foreshadowed a broader global transition in which physical…