Commercial farmers, industry experts, and agricultural leaders gathered at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria on 2 September 2026 for TLU SA’s annual congress. Centred on the theme “Agriculture: Grounded. Protected. Preserved.”, the event highlighted the critical choices facing South Africa’s primary food producers and laid down a strategic roadmap focused on rural safety, constitutional rights, water security, and economic survival.
A Faith-Based Foundation and Heritage
Opening the discussions under the banner of being “Grounded” at the Pretoria convention centre, Prof Andries Raath of TLU SA and Dr Danie Langner of the FAK reaffirmed the organisation’s Christian roots and constitutional identity. Panellists emphasised that reliance on faith directly shapes TLU SA’s policy engagements and commitment to passing down agricultural traditions to the next generation. Proposed resolutions urged the union to keep these foundational values central in all future negotiations with state and private institutions.
Tackling Crime and Economic Barriers
The “Protected” panel brought rural safety and state capacity to the forefront. Featuring Prof Jannie Rossouw of Wits Business School and Ian Cameron, MP from Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, the debate targeted systemic corruption, weak law enforcement, and administrative red tape.
Key safety mandates adopted by the congress include:
- Police Accountability: Maintaining pressure on the SAPS and NPA to resource and enforce the National Rural Safety Strategy at the grassroots level.
- Community Defence: Clarifying the legal role of local farm watches and pushing to reinstate the police reservist system.
- Legal Action: TLU SA President Henry Geldenhuys announced that the union’s legal team stands ready to act as amicus curiae alongside network partners to challenge race-based legislation that hinders investment.
Safeguarding Vital Land and Water Resources
Addressing the “Preserved” pillar inside the CSIR venue, Hanke du Toit (SAWUA) and Advocate Stefanie Fick (OUTA) warned of severe threats to South Africa’s water quality due to failing municipal sewage management, industrial pollution, and mining. Congress delegates called for strict legal accountability for negligent municipal officials and advocated for realistic, producer-friendly environmental regulations to protect essential farming inputs.
Ministerial Support and a Vision for Growth
Guest speaker Rob Hersov identified agriculture as a prime driver for national growth, provided the country fixes critical supply chains, port operations, and bulk water infrastructure. Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp voiced strong solidarity with commercial producers, declaring:
“The ‘we want land’ ideology does not plant maize.”
Crisis in the Swartland: Wheat Farmers Cannot Carry Climate Risk Alone
Minister Aucamp urged farmers to remain focused on production while committing his department to collaborative engagement. Meanwhile, Young Farmers’ Committee Chairman Clemens Senekal outlined plans to modernise the sector through tech-driven solutions, peer mentorship, and resource stewardship.
In closing, General Manager Bennie van Zyl and re-elected leadership reaffirmed TLU SA’s mandate from the Pretoria congress: translating policy resolutions into aggressive action to shield producers and guarantee national food security.