Editor: Whilst our motoring public goes gaga for Chery Vehicles we could also now say that the Chinese are going gaga for our Cherries!
Statment by Désirée van der Walt MP – DA Spokesperson on Agriculture:
The Democratic Alliance congratulates DA Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp for ushering in a landmark agreement that opens the Chinese market for the first time to South Africa’s cherry producers. This is a significant achievement that demonstrates how the DA in government is working to grow the economy, open new markets and create opportunities for South Africans.
The protocol signing is particularly good news for South Africa’s agricultural sector. China is the world’s biggest importer of cherries, having imported approximately 586,900 tonnes valued at US$3.3 billion, or around R52.8 billion, in 2025. Access to this market therefore creates significant potential for South African producers to expand exports and grow their businesses.
Crucially, increased market access means more than simply selling more products overseas. It creates opportunities for new investment across the agricultural value chain, increased production and sustainable job creation, particularly in rural communities. With the inclusion of the Chinese market, investments in the cherry value chain are expected to create room for approximately 600 new jobs.
This is exactly what the DA means when we say that government must create an environment in which businesses can grow, investment can flourish and people can find work. Rather than government standing in the way of economic opportunity, DA Ministers are actively working to remove barriers and open doors for South African businesses and producers.
Minister Aucamp’s work to secure this market access is another example of a DA Minister leading on job creation and economic growth. By expanding opportunities for South African agricultural producers to compete in international markets, the DA in government is helping to unlock the investment and economic activity needed to create sustainable employment.
The DA will continue working in government to expand market access, attract investment and support the growth of productive sectors of the economy. South Africa’s agricultural strength presents enormous opportunities, and the DA is committed to turning those opportunities into growth, investment and jobs.
Twiddle Twix
So I\’m real good friends with this guy named Juan Ted. Now, Juan is a pretty amazing guy. He can steal ANYTHING he wants to. Literally anything. It could be the shirt off your back, the wallet in your pocket, or I\’m even sure he\’d find a way to steal your house (And your spouse too). So anyway, one day Juan and I are sitting around watching TV, and they announced that the hope diamond will not be on display anymore and is now getting moved to an undisclosed location. So as we hear this, Juan says \”I\’m gonna steal it\”. Now I know how good Juan is at this kind of stuff, so I just tell him good luck and he goes on his way. Eventually he narrows his search down to a small cave in South Africa. When Juan gets there, he doesn\’t see any guards or anything outside the cave, so he just walks in assuming he was wrong about where the diamond was. He wanders around for a while until he sees a long lit hallway with the hope diamond at the end of it. Confident in his abilities, he strolls over to the diamond and picks it up before realizing its a trap! Suddenly, red lights flashed, armed men came running out, sirens went off. You could hear one of the men say under his breath \”We finally caught Juan Ted.\” But Juan, being the best thief in the world, said \”Not quite. On the count of three, I will disappear.\” As the men looked around confused, Juan began to count. \”Uno. Dos.\” And he disappeared without a tres.
solitaire
Fun South African Fact: It’s believed that Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains in the world. Table mountain is approximately 260 million years old; it’s also home to thousands of species of plant life, including species unique to the Cape Floral Region. The glorious mountain is one of the world’s 7 New Natural Wonders. It is also apparently one of 12 main energy centres on the planet emitting spiritual, magnetic, and electric energies. It’s an idyllic and very popular hiking destination with hundreds of routes to explore.