Farmers Magazine | 18.06.2026 12:04
Willie Aucamp is preparing to take over South Africa’s agriculture portfolio at a critical moment for the farming sector. His appointment follows what has been widely reported as the departure of Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, who has faced mounting pressure over the government’s handling of the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. The disease has disrupted livestock movement, affected exports and drawn criticism from some farming organisations, producers and civil society groups who argued that the government’s response was too slow and poorly coordinated. Steenhuisen himself acknowledged the criticism while defending the department’s efforts to contain the outbreak.
