DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CLARIFIES INACCURACIES IN CARTE BLANCHE BROADCAST

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BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CLARIFIES INACCURACIES IN CARTE BLANCHE BROADCAST

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – The Department of Agriculture has formally addressed and corrected several factual and legal errors from a Carte Blanche investigative feature broadcast on 26 July 2026, which raised questions regarding administrative appointments and product safety under the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947).

Designation and SACNASP Affiliation

The Department rejected claims made in the broadcast regarding the legal qualifications required for the Minister's delegated authority:

Legality of Appointment: Mr. Maluta Jonathan Mudzunga serves as Chief Director: Inspection and Quarantine Services following his promotion from Director: Agricultural Inputs Control. He was lawfully designated by the Minister under Section 2(1) of Act 36 of 1947.

SACNASP Membership Not Required: The Department clarified that statutory designation under Section 2(1) does not mandate affiliation with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). None of Mr. Mudzunga's predecessors held SACNASP registration—largely because the professional body did not exist as a legal entity at the time of their designations.

Reporting Lines and Operational Hierarchy

The Department dismissed assertions that Mr. Mudzunga holds multiple conflicting posts or "reports to himself":

Single Substantive Post: Mr. Mudzunga holds a single post as Chief Director: Inspection and Quarantine Services. His former role, Director: Agricultural Inputs Control, is currently filled in an acting capacity by the Head of Inspection Services.

Delegated Authority: In terms of Section 2(2)(a) of the Act, operational responsibilities are lawfully delegated to the Head of Inspection Services, who acts as the de facto registrar.

Accountability Structure: Mr. Mudzunga reports to the Deputy Director-General: Agricultural Production and Natural Resources Management, and ultimately to the Director-General and the Minister.

Status of Product Registration & Livestock Investigation

Pre-existing Registration: The agricultural product featured in the television segment was registered prior to Mr. Mudzunga’s tenure as Registrar.

Ongoing Probe: The Department confirmed that, outside of the specific case highlighted by Carte Blanche, no further reports of livestock fatalities or adverse reactions associated with the product have been logged.

Premature Liability Assertions: A comprehensive investigation is currently underway. The Department emphasized that claims attributing the farmer's losses to departmental negligence are premature and legally unfounded until formal findings are concluded.

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Monday, 3 August 2026