Classic Business

CEO Ian Lourens

While agriculture was the standout performer in the recent GDP horror show one subsector is urgently lobbying government for protection from imports from Europe: the humble, mashed, baked, fried, or vodkarised, potato. Since 2000/01 potatoes accounted for approximately 45% of total vegetable crops produced in South Africa and contribute around R8.5 billion to the economy. However, these numbers are under threat due to a surplus of frozen and processed potato products in Europe, as a result of a decreased demand brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, and hence significantly depressed prices. As South Africa is a key destination for processed potato product exports from the EU where there is a history of dumping, this is set to have a negative impact on the country’s agricultural sector and surrounding communities. André Jooste, CEO of Potato South Africa, talks to Michael Avery about what is happening in the value chain and why government has to intervene urgently before the WTO can be counted on to assist with an anti-dumping claim.

The Sustainability Feature on Classic Business is brought to you by Enviromall - Experts in sourcing new and hard-to-find eco-friendly products for sustainable tomorrows. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) IPP Office has clarified that it is aiming to release bid documentation for the so-called fifth bid window (BW5) of South Africa’s renewable-energy procurement programme in January, following receipt of the regulator’s concurrence with a Ministerial determination that clears the way for the resumption of procurement.

The Section 34 Ministerial determination has not yet been formally published in the Government Gazette. Michael Avery speaks to Tommy Garner, Chairman of the Independent Power Producers Association of South Africa, about next steps for the independent power procurement programme.

Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of Tourism Business Council, speaks to Michael Avery about the reopening of the country’s borders to international tourists and whether any work has been done on the e-visa regime to speed up the recovery of a sector that has been decimated by Covid 19. The prognosis is not encouraging.

Jeremy Sampson, MD of Brand Finance Africa

Prof Adrian Puren, head of the Centre for HIV and STIs at NICD

Richard Bray, head of strategy and positioning at Amplify Investment Partners, subsidiary of Sanlam Investment Holdings

Peter Worthington, senior economist at Absa

Chantal Marx, head of equity research at FNB Wealth and Investments & Nerina Visser, director, ETF strategist and financial advisor at etfSA

Dave Mohr, strategist @Old Mutual Wealth Investment, Lumkile Mondi, senior lecturer at the School of Economics and Business Science at Wits & Dr Adrian Saville, Professor of Economics, Finance and Strategy at GIBS