South Africa's agricultural sector, often the economy's unsung hero, is showing signs of a tentative resurgence in the third quarter of 2025, buoyed by bountiful field crops and horticultural gains, yet weighed down by persistent woes in livestock.

Over 31 years, ANC governance has transformed inherited infrastructure into a liability. Unemployment hovers at 39.5%, with load-shedding alone erasing 21,000 agricultural jobs in the Eastern Cape.

South Africa's potato industry, a cornerstone of rural employment and food security (producing ~250 million 10kg bags annually from 52,000+ hectares), is reeling from a severe price slump in 2025.

The warnings from Remgro CEO Jannie Durand, Sakeliga's Piet le Roux, and economist Dawie Roodt aren't just alarmist rhetoric; they're a stark reminder of how fragile