The news that the former DA leader, Mr John Steenhuisen, would be replaced as Minister of Agriculture did not come as a surprise.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) wishes his successor, Mr Willie Aucamp, all the best.
Steenhuisen failed to successfully contain foot-and-mouth disease and to top it all his inner circle’s insensitive communication sparked public outrage. The situation had clearly become untenable. And now the question on everyone’s lips is to what extent things will improve.
Aucamp has a stronger agricultural background and previously served on this Department’s Portfolio Committee.
What ultimately sank Steenhuisen, however, was not primarily his lack of agricultural knowledge, but his inability to tame his Department’s centralising tendencies. When he was supposed to scale back the state’s role in favour of the private sector, he did the exact opposite under the guidance of senior officials.
If a minister supports his incompetent department in trying to retain sole control over a crisis, contradicting his own previous policy declarations, his fate is effectively sealed. This is the exact same test that Aucamp will now face.
The entire agricultural sector is holding its breath to see whether Minister Willie Aucamp will take control of his Department or whether he will be swallowed by it.
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