Infographic: Food security

In its briefing to the agriculture portfolio committee on 11 October 2016, the Department on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) provided an analysis of food security and vulnerability to hunger. Drought had a severe effect on the cultivation of land and food production. A mere 6% of the targeted 18 ...

Infographic: Update on drought impact

On Tuesday, 20 September 2016, the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries heard briefings during the stakeholder engagement on the impact of drought and the implementation of the drought response plan. AgriSA said the South African agricultural sector has a turnover of R227 billion per and represents 2.5% of ...

The week ahead – President to answer oral questions

It's a week of farewells and loose ends.

The constituency period beckons, with MPs due to depart on Friday and return on 12 April. But a fair amount of heavy-duty business will be done before they go with lots of action scheduled in the main chambers and committee corridor.

The ...

Analysis: This week's SONA 2016 debate, an ideal electioneering platform

By MARIANNE MERTEN

zuma Picture: Nardus Engelbrecht/SAPA.

The sequel to President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address unfolds over two afternoons from Tuesday as MPs take to the National Assembly podium to debate last week’s presidential remarks. With local government elections later this year, it’s the perfect opportunity to electioneer ...

SONA: Go for the Big Five, President Zuma, you have nothing to lose

By Judith February.

The President should focus on the multi-dimensional nature of South Africa’s crisis: from the economy, to racial polarisation, securitisation of the state, dysfunction and maladministration at local government, the problems are easily identifiable. The SONA should be easy to write. Go for the Big Five, and you’re ...

Everything you need to know about SONA 2016

When and what time is the 2016 State of the Nation Address?

President Zuma’s ninth State of the Address will be delivered on Thursday, February 11 at 19:00. In a break from tradition in February 2010, he delivered the SONA for the first time in the evening to give more ...

The Week Ahead: Food Security, Expropriation Bill, UIF Bill & Marikana

It’s still early days and Parliament is not yet firing on all cylinders. There are no sittings scheduled in the main chambers and only a handful of meetings planned for the committee corridor. Nonetheless, there is still scope for headline-grabbing and party battles in this week's parliamentary agenda, with food ...

Parliament in 2016: what to expect

From the local government elections to political battles, 2016 promises to be another turbulent year in Parliament. Also high on the agenda are contentious legislation, domestic challenges, the state of the economy and public accountability. We preview some of the main issues that will dominate the headlines in 2016.

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Infographic: Drought impact on agriculture

See infographic below:

drought impact

The agricultural sector is vital to many livelihoods and it is a source of employment in rural communities with a significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Statistics SA notes that the sector contracted 17% quarter on quarter largely due to the 2015 drought conditions.

The ...

Infographic: Food Security

The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry And Fisheries hosted a two-day workshop on Food Security and Safety with the Portfolio Committees of Health and Social Development and the Select Committee on Land and Mineral Resources. The committees engaged with food security and safety experts to examine what structures are in ...