Beefmaster Group

Tune in to Radio Teemaneng today at 12:30 as Cindy Nkogeng, alongside Siphosethu Jacobs and Boitumelo Dapula from Beefmaster Group, will discuss how practical workplace experience is helping young graduates build successful careers in agriculture.

The conversation will explore the ongoing challenge of graduate unemployment, particularly the difficulty many young people face in securing employment without practical industry experience. Through its partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Beefmaster Group is helping bridge this gap through the Unemployed Agricultural Graduates Programme, which provides graduates with two years of workplace exposure, skills development, and hands-on industry experience to support their transition from education to employment.

June, also known as Youth Month, is a time to reflect on empowering young people and their role in shaping the future of South Africa’s agricultural sector and beyond.

the Unemployed Agricultural Graduates Programme – a programme offered by Beefmaster Group in partnership with the Department of Agriculture – provides young agricultural graduates with two years of workplace exposure and skills development.

In 2024, Beefmaster hosted 11 graduates across Kimberley and Christiana, with three securing permanent employment after completing the programme. A new cohort of 10 graduates is now being hosted between 2026 and 2028.

Meet two young professionals employed through the programme: 28-year-old Siphosethu Jacobs (SHEQ Officer) and 29-year-old Boitumelo Dapula (Administrator).

Siphosethu, who studied Entrepreneurship and Agriculture at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, says the programme opened her eyes to opportunities in the sector:

"The programme exposed me to quality assurance, food safety and compliance within the agricultural value chain - an area I had never really considered before," she says. “Agriculture is much broader than many people realise. Take time to understand the industry, learn from others and be open to new experiences. The more skills you develop, the more opportunities you create."

Born in Laxey near Kuruman in the Northern Cape, Boitumelo Dapula studied at Taung College of Agriculture, specialising in irrigation.

“My qualification focused on irrigation, but I wanted to understand how different parts of the industry work together, which I loved learning on the programme,” he says. “The industry offers many career paths. Sometimes the opportunities that shape your future are found in places you never expected."

On Friday we wrapped up the Africa Food Show 2026!

Thank you to everyone who visited the Beefmaster Group stand, engaged in conversation, and shared insights on the future of food, trade, and food security across Africa.

It was a valuable few days connecting with industry partners and exploring the opportunities shaping the continent’s food value chain.

Until next time, Cape Town!

With Africa’s population projected to approach 2.5 billion people by 2050, demand for affordable, safe and reliable protein continues to rise. This creates important opportunities to strengthen food security and support trade across the continent.

This is the view of Gert Blignaut, CEO of Beefmaster. “There is clear opportunity for South African beef producers to expand intra-African trade. African markets are increasingly important in understanding where future growth may come from, alongside established regional destinations,” says Gert Blignaut, CEO of Beefmaster Group.

Recent trade data shows South African beef already reaching a wide range of international and African markets, with growing interest from countries across the continent alongside established export destinations.

Broader economic forecasts also point to Africa’s continued growth, with the IMF noting the continent could outpace Asia’s growth in 2026, and projections indicating that by 2050, one in four people globally will be African.

These trends are being discussed at the Africa Food Show in Cape Town this week, where industry players are exploring the future of food and trade in Africa. Beefmaster Group is attending the event at the CTICC until tomorrow, 12 June 2026, if you’re there, visit our stand and come say hi!

When you buy beef for your family, food safety matters.

What many people don't see is the work that happens behind the scenes long before a product reaches the shelf or your plate.

Following the recently held World Food Safety Day, it is worth remembering that food safety starts at every stage of the food value chain.

you know? Beefmaster Group conducts an average of 8,859 quality assurance checks every day to help ensure its beef products meet quality and food safety requirements before reaching consumers in South Africa and around the world.

The conversation around the importance of food safety will continue at the Africa Food Show at the CTICC in Cape Town from 10–12 June, where we will be attendance. If you are around, come say hi!

Do you have your ticket yet?

The Africa Food Show kicks off at the CTICC on 10 June! The countdown has begun!

On until 12 June, the Africa Food is the gateway to global food and beverage trends and industry connections across Africa.

We will be exhibiting, so come find us and let’s talk food, trade and opportunity.

Thank you Farmer's Weekly SA for featuring Christiana in your latest issue!

South Africa’s rural towns, including Christiana, form the backbone of our agricultural sector and are critically important local economies, and we are so glad to see that the town, its history, and its people are being recognised.

Thank you Riaan Hattingh for the great story!
Read the story here and keep a look out for the mention of Beefmaster Group 😉

https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/lifestyle/agritourism/christiana-a-community-of-hope/ =rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=christiana-a-community-of-hope

Christiana: a community of hope Members of the Christiana community in North West invited Farmer’s Weekly to visit their small agricultural town, and we were pleasantly surprised by what we found.

We are pleased to announce that we will attend the Africa Food Show at the CTICC, Cape Town, from 10–12 June 2026.

This premier event brings together key players from across the continent's food and beverage sectors. We cannot wait to connect with customers and potential clients!

We hope to see you there!

Rassie het baie manne om uit te kies vir die opkomende Bok-toetse. Wie sou jy kies en hoekom? Ons gesels ook daaroor op TNT, Vrydagaand op kykNET

Virseker Renault South Africa Beefmaster Group Malu Pork Chargo Boutique Lodge & Reserve Brutes Air-Gas-Power Castle Lager SA

The opportunity in being recognised as FMD-free-with-vaccination
Currently, South Africa is not recognised as having an official FMD status, according to World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) data from March 2026. “This lack of formal recognition significantly constrains the country’s ability to access and compete in high-value international markets,” says our Chairman, Louw van Reenen.

Without a clear and credible status, export opportunities remain limited, as many countries require strict assurances around disease control before allowing imports. This places South African producers at a disadvantage compared to countries that have adopted a “free from FMD with vaccination” classification, which enables them to trade more widely while managing the disease through structured programmes.

“Achieving this status would allow producers to optimise value across different regions and significantly improve returns.”
access could increase profitability by over 30%, believes van Reenen.

“Other countries already export successfully with vaccination, indicating market acceptance is not a barrier. In addition, South African beef remains competitively priced globally, offering strong value relative to international benchmarks,” he says.

He adds that South Africa needs to prove that its systems are well-regulated and strictly managed. “There must be clear evidence that we are controlling the disease effectively.”