Ramaphosa appoints Wandile Sihlobo as Presidential Envoy on Agriculture and Land

SOUTH AFRICA – President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Wandile Sihlobo as Presidential Envoy on Agriculture and Land, strengthening the focus on land reform, rural development and agricultural trade.

The Presidency confirmed the appointment on 21 February. According to the appointment details reported by Farmer’s Weekly, Sihlobo serves as chief economist of Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa and sits on the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

In its statement, The Presidency said he will support government efforts given “the importance of agriculture in South Africa’s economic growth path, recurrent challenges in the sector and growth opportunities domestically and abroad”.

A presidential envoy does not replace a minister. Instead, the envoy represents the president directly and advances set priorities across departments.

In this role, Sihlobo will work with government departments and state entities such as the Agricultural Research Council, Land Bank and Onderstepoort Biological Products. He will also engage the private sector to speed up progress in agriculture and trade.

Land reform at the centre

In a policy paper published in early January, Sihlobo set out five priorities for 2026. Land reform topped the list. He wrote that government owns about 2.5 million hectares under the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy and should release this land with title deeds to selected beneficiaries.

“We can do better,” he stated, urging clear and focused action. He argued that slow land release limits the role of black farmers in commercial output. He also supported reviving a land reform agency, an idea previously backed by former minister Thoko Didiza.

Trade, biosecurity and rural safety

Beyond land reform, Sihlobo highlighted export diversification into Asia and the Middle East, reform of the Southern African Customs Union, stronger biosecurity and action against rural crime.

Exports account for about half of South Africa’s agricultural output by value. His new role includes a clear focus on international trade, which may improve coordination at presidential level.

On rural crime, he pointed to data from Statistics South Africa that show major livestock losses in the 2024/25 season.

Sihlobo has said that organised agriculture stands ready to support reform if government clears the way for wider participation. “Eases the path for others to participate,” he wrote in his paper.

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