Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase spoke to Food For Mzansi in an exclusive podcast interview about the work being done behind the scenes to keep the food supplies flowing. "We must understand that this crisis is going to have a huge economic impact. I somehow think that people are underestimating it. A number of businesses - and not just in agriculture, especially outside agriculture - will not survive. Some are already closing down," he says. Please click here to listen to the podcast.

The Covid-19 pandemic has required a rapid response from all parties in South Africa, including business.  Since the lockdown announcement, there have been many important questions that require urgent answers.  As such, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) has compiled a list of questions and answers which constitutes their expectations as to how the business lockdown will take effect. It is not an official document, but intended to bring some clarity to businesses in the interim.  "We appeal to all businesses to respect the importance of the lockdown. Sacrifices will need to be made in the broader interests of the country and our people." This information is accurate as at the date of publishing this information, however the regulations may change quite rapidly so it is recommended that you check the South African government website frequently to stay on top of any amendments which may affect your business.

Business for SA's Public Health Workgroup is calling on all companies, especially those in lockdown, to urgently divert their stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in the national healthcare sector. The PPE is critically needed to protect frontline doctors and healthcare workers, and to keep them healthy in their fight against the pandemic. Stavros Nicolaou, who leads the Public Health Workgroup for Business for South Africa says: "As we head deeper into the Covid-19 crisis, we are going to need all the masks, gloves and protective equipment we can source to ensure the healthcare sector has a ready and ongoing supply. We appeal to all South African businesses, whether large or small, to unlock their stocks in the best national interest. Read more in the linked media statement. Listen to a radio interview with Dr Purchase regarding this call from Business for SA at this link.

In the lockdown regulations, farming together with the distribution of food was declared an essential service that will continue. Rail services and the rest of the Transnet operations were included in the determination. Jan-Louis Spoelstra of Transnet Freight Rail says "the movement of food has been placed as a high priority inside Transnet and we will do everything we can to ensure that we move as much as we can to the different processing plants as well as where we can, the final products to the distribution centres. The export and import of food products (all grain) will continue and we will ensure that we prioritise capacity to make this possible." Any requirement for additional capacity, in addition to the requests already confirmed by Transnet Freight Rail, should be communicated to Jan-Louis Spoelstra and his colleagues at Transnet Freight Rail. Spoelstra says: "In my opinion it makes sense to prioritise the movement of cargo by rail as this will reduce the movement of lorries and people over the provincial boundaries and as such increase the risk of spreading the virus throughout the country. The use of rail will increase our efforts to enforce social distancing."

As South Africa responds to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, the B4i Empowerment Group has shifted gear and turned its focus towards the most vulnerable amongst us. Through the Business for Empowerment Foundation (B4EF) it will assist those who cannot sustain themselves for the duration of the pandemic and are merely fighting to obtain food for just another day. The B4i Empowerment Group has been proactive by instructing small local food manufacturers to prepack highly nutritional dry food packs for distribution to the targeted beneficiaries. As an immediate measure, it has allocated approximately a million rand in cash to these identified NPOs that are strained towards payment of salaries and other running costs. Read more in the linked B4i media statement.

The South African Pork Producers' Organisation (SAPPO) launched its digital Facebook #YesMrPresident Campaign. "SAPPO believes that South Africa's leaders are facing a daunting task to navigate the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic and with our #YesMrPresident Campaign we want to demonstrate our solidarity with President Cyril Ramaphosa and his colleagues," says Johann Kotzé, CEO of SAPPO. "Agriculture is one of the essential services and is exempt from the lockdown; farmers will continue to produce food for South Africans. This comes with added risks as it requires people in the industry to travel and work shoulder to shoulder. The agricultural sector wants to show that it is doing the right things to keep people safe. We want to show the government that the agricultural sector is listening," Kotzé says. Please click SAPPO media statement to peruse.

Finding Common Ground is a selection of key articles from Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo's regular
Business Day column, framed with insightful commentary and context. The book covers the broad themes that have marked current discussions and outlines the challenges and opportunities faced by South Africa's agricultural sector. Please click here for more information from the publishers PanMacMillan. During lockdown the book is available on Kindle and as an e-book. 

Get your copy here:

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B084G1XS88
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/za/en/ebook/finding-common-ground-5

Click here to listen to a Radio 702 interview with Wandile Sihlobo on his book.

The Banking Association South Africa (BASA) is pleased to formally announce the appointment of Bongiwe Kunene to the position of Managing Director, from 01 April 2020.
Kunene is currently Standard Bank Personal and Business Banking (PBB) Group Head for the Public Sector. She has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. Between 1994 and 1998 she was part of the National Treasury team that created pioneering fiscal and economic frameworks for the country. She has also served as Head of Department: Gauteng Department of Finance and Economic Affairs; in the South African Presidency; and as World Bank Executive Director representing South Africa, Nigeria and Angola. Kunene holds a Master of Science in Development Economics from the University of London. Read more in the linked BASA media statement.

Read more about the latest developments and news in the pork industry in the South African Pork Producers' Organisation's (SAPPO) newsletter, SAPPO Weekly Update.

Keeping it Fresh, the newsletter of the Fresh Produce Exporters' Forum, contains all the recent relevant news and developments.