Media Releases

Agbiz welcomes Annelize Crosby as the head of legal intelligence

Agbiz is delighted to announce that Annelize Crosby will be joining the Agbiz team from February 2022 as the head of legal intelligence. “Annelize is well respected within the broader agribusiness community and we are excited to have her on board. I have no doubt that she will fit in seamlessly within the Agbiz team.” This is according to Agbiz CEO, Dr John Purchase. Annelize previously served as the legal and parliamentary liaison consultant for Agri SA and currently heads up Agri SA’s Land Centre of Excellence.

Published: 27/11/2021

Agbiz welcomes the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement

Published: 11/11/2021

Agbiz announces CEO designate

“Following a rigorous and comprehensive recruitment process, Agbiz has the pleasure to announce that Mr Theo Boshoff, currently head of Legal Intelligence within Agbiz, has been designated to take over the reins as CEO of Agbiz as from 1 January 2022. The current incumbent, Dr John Purchase, retires at the end of December 2021 after more than 14 years of service to Agbiz, ” Mr Francois Strydom, chairman of Agbiz, said today.

Published: 18/08/2021

Agbiz leadership re-elected unanimously

Earlier today at the Agbiz annual general meeting that was hosted virtually, the Agbiz leadership team was re-elected unanimously. The position of chairperson was uncontested and Mr Francois Strydom of Senwes, will lead the leadership corps for another term. Mr Sean Walsh of Kaap Agri, was re-elected as first deputy chairperson and Dr Langa Simela of Absa as second deputy chairperson.

Published: 30/04/2021

BRICS Agribusiness Working Group engages with dtic to discuss increased market access

Friday, 19 March 2021, the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), together with government – represented by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) – and also industry role players such as Agri SA, the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA),  the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) and  National African Farmers’ Union (NAFU), amongst others, met to discuss South Africa-BRICS agricultural trade matters.

Published: 23/03/2021

Agbiz responds to 2021 Budget Speech: Inclusive growth and fiscal consolidation critical for South Africa’s future

“In the most challenging budget for South Africa since the advent of democracy in 1994, Minister Tito Mboweni and his team have, within major constraints, provided the most reasonable balance in stimulating economic growth and consolidating the fiscal framework. With the previous national budget of February 2020, South Africa was already in an unenviable and constrained position of endemic low economic growth, constrained tax revenue and higher unemployment,” Dr John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz, said today. - Agbiz media statement issued on 24 February 2021

Published: 24/02/2021

Stability in rural areas necessary for economies to thrive

“Agbiz is alarmed at the high incidence of crime in South Africa, and in particular crime in the rural communities where food producers and many of our agribusinesses are operating,” says Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase. “We strongly reject and condemn all forms of violence and criminality in all of our communities. Crime in the rural areas leaves the whole farming community vulnerable, and it not only affects farmers, but also farmworkers and their families." - Agbiz media statement issued on 8 October 2020

Published: 08/10/2020

Agbiz welcomes move to alert level 2 (AL2), including the lifting of the ban on alcohol and tobacco product sales

The Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) strongly welcomes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa over the weekend to move from alert level 3 to alert level 2 and to open up the economy as far as possible, within obvious measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. “The lifting of the ban on alcohol and tobacco sales is very good news and we commend the government for this necessary and well-considered decision,” says Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase.  - Agbiz media statement issued on 21 August 2020

Published: 21/08/2020

Agbiz announces food relief initiative for needy communities

The neediest in agricultural rural communities will receive food relief under the Agri Value Chain Relief Project, a project initiated and coordinated by the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) in collaboration with Grain SA. Since the national lockdown was implemented on 26 March 2020 the need for adequate food in vulnerable communities has increased rapidly. “In this time of extreme hardship, the agricultural industry can play a significant role to stabilise society and alleviate hunger amongst the most vulnerable of society,” says Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase. - Agbiz media statement issued on 30 April 2020

Published: 30/04/2020

Agbiz announces appointment of new general manager for Agbiz Grain

Agbiz is pleased to announce that Wessel Lemmer has been appointed as the new general manager of Agbiz Grain, a fully-fledged and dedicated desk under the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz). He will assume responsibilities in July 2020 and will succeed Mariana Purnell, who is retiring at the end of June. Purnell has led Agbiz Grain since it was established by the 12 largest commercial grain-handling and storage companies in South Africa in November 2014. - Agbiz media statement issued on 20 April 2020

Published: 20/04/2020