Ramaphosa’s chief economist has urged the South African government to respond “firmly but sensitively” to Botswana’s decision to reimpose import restrictions on fresh produce In a public notice dated 8 December 2025, the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture announced that a fresh list of commodities—including tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cabbages, carrots, peppers, garlic, butternut and several others—would be “restricted until further notice” due to what the ministry described as “relatively high local production and availability.” The government urged consumers to buy local, signalling a return to protectionist food-security policies. The decision has drawn swift criticism from agricultural stakeholders in South Africa, Botswana’s largest fresh-produce supplier and a key partner in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Prominent South African agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo, who also serves on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s economic advisory council, expressed disappointment, saying the move undermines ongoing regional integration efforts.
Sihlobo warned that the bans could have serious financial implications for South African farmers who have traditionally relied on Botswana for market access. Botswana has historically absorbed up to 15% of South Africa’s vegetable exports, amounting to hundreds of millions of rand annually. At the time, Lamola praised Botswana’s commitment to “fostering closer ties and facilitating trade” and expressed optimism about deeper agricultural cooperation at the 2025 South Africa–Botswana Binational Commission.
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