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‘David and Goliath’ reach a gentleman’s agreement

Combining forces: Presidents Masisi and Ramaphosa with their respective trade ministers at last week’s meeting 
PIC: BITC FACEBOOK
Combining forces: Presidents Masisi and Ramaphosa with their respective trade ministers at last week’s meeting PIC: BITC FACEBOOK

From decades of living in the economic shadow of South Africa, Trade Minister, Mmusi Kgafela says an agreement has been reached to not compete but cooperate towards industrialisation. His counterpart, Ebrahim Patel, says the bigger prize is working together to replace the trillions Africa spends on imports. Staff Writers, MBONGENI MGUNI and PAULINE DIKUELO report

The matter of South Africa’s economic dominance of Botswana and other Southern African Customs Union (SACU) member states has boiled under the surface of various meetings between the regional neighbours over the decades.

COVID-19 sharply brought the debate to the fore.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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