Auction agents in the livestock industry have been waiting for five months for a response from the agriculture minister to transfer their control to the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS). Currently, the agents are governed by the Agricultural Products Agents Council (APAC).
By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Paul van Vuuren is the driving force behind the request to John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture. Van Vuuren, a farmer, feedlot owner and managing director of André Kock & Sons Limpopo, and others in the industry feel so strongly about this that the request was sent to Steenhuisen via an attorney’s letter.
“Auction agents in the livestock industry must be moved under the RMIS and also get a seat at the table when issues in the industry are discussed,” says Van Vuuren. He believes APAC, the regulatory body for auction agents, does not do enough to represent auction agents.
He also says APAC “doesn’t have enough teeth” to act against violators of regulations because “their main purpose is to oversee fresh produce and export agents, an industry that differs greatly from livestock agents in the auction business. On the other hand, the RMIS was established with the exclusive purpose of promoting the red meat industry,” according to the attorney’s letter to Steenhuisen, which was sent on 15 February this year.
Inadequate Action
As an example of inadequate action, he cites the case of an auctioneer in Limpopo who was arrested in January 2020 after allegedly buying calves in the area where foot-and-mouth disease is endemic and illegally selling them at auction yards near Mogwadi and Vivo.
Sors Snyman’s arrest followed the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development’s filing a complaint with the police after foot-and-mouth disease broke out in Limpopo at the end of 2019.
This outbreak led to a ban on live livestock auctions in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and the North West on 14 November 2019. Subsequently, on 4 December 2019, a nationwide ban was enforced on the offering of auctions and shows of cloven-hoofed animals.
Cmdt. Jan Nel, biosecurity officer at the RMIS, told African Farming on Friday (18 July 2025) that he was only informed the previous day that Snyman’s case had been scheduled on the court roll from 1 to 3 October this year. He has been closely monitoring this case for the past five years and has been following up with the police and the National Prosecuting Authority.
Also read | FMD: Auctioneer Sors Snyman’s case back on court roll after five years
Van Vuuren asks what APAC’s role was in the Snyman saga. “Did they make any positive contribution?” Is this a sign of the state’s inability to control the spread of foot-and-mouth disease? And how is action taken against those who violate regulations?”
APAC Mandate
Landbouweekblad approached APAC for comment, which will be updated if received. On its website, however, APAC outlines its mandate, objective and mission.
This includes facilitating “the highest standards of professionalism and ethics among agents.”
This is also reflected in the council’s objective to maintain and improve the status and dignity of … (agents) … and the integrity of persons practising those professions, in terms of section 9 of the Agricultural Products Agents Act (Act 12 of 1992).”
Enforcing Regulations
The ongoing outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease once again highlights the importance of implementing legislation and regulations effectively at the ground level by the relevant authorities. Van Vuuren says, “It cannot be only the responsibility of auction houses to maintain biosecurity and adhere to rules. Everyone in the industry must collaborate, stand together, and support each other so that we can address this issue.”
He says, in addition, APAC’s agent tariffs have increased significantly. He decided not to pay that money this year “Francois Knowles (Registrar of APAC) contacted me via an attorney’s letter about this and indicated he wanted to visit me to discuss my complaints, but he never showed up for the appointment and didn’t communicate anything further. I just received another attorney’s letter about the tariffs.”
According to Joylene van Wyk, spokesperson for Steenhuisen, the auction agents’ request to fall under the RMIS is being investigated.
Dewald Olivier, executive head of the RMIS, says he is aware of Van Vuuren’s letter and request, and will investigate the possibilities provided the legislation is amended.
Readers with reactions or comments are welcome to send an email to alani.janeke@landbou.com or lbw@landbou.com.
