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My recent visit to Zimbabwe

 The journey was well planned and it took us less than 10 hours to reach our destination from Pretoria South Africa to Mvuma central Zimbabwe.  A lot of construction is happening on the roads. Harare to Masvingo Highway is complete and the remaining part which was left between Beitbridge and Masvingo is being completed.  Surely by December it should be done. Though there is a lot of money being miss used, there are elements of success. Harare to Beitbridge road was a death trap, the road had so many potholes, had no shoulder no fencing to protect  animals from entering the road and some parts even worn out that left it narrow in a way that two trucks cannot pass without one having to go out of the road.  Those improvements form part of the new Government's transformation policy. There is job creation and slowly improving the standards which has been declining for more that 20 to 30 years. Surely Rome was not built over night. At the border you can see significan...

TAKE A LOOK | Inside SA’s first Ankole cattle auction, with Cyril Ramaphosa and Patrice Motsepe

 James Oatway , Business Insider SA

 May 04, 2021, 08:11 AM
30 April 2021. President Cyril Ramaphosa during bi
(James Oatway)
  • The first auction of Ankole cattle in South Africa attracted a President – and a business mogul.
  • Both Cyril Ramaphosa and Patrice Motsepe were spotted at the auction, with one selling and one buying.
  • Ramaphosa described as "incredible" the scientific innovation that allowed the breed to be established in South Africa.
  • Organisers were thrilled at "astronomical" prices, including R2.7 million for a bull.
  • For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.

The organisers of South Africa's first auction of Ankole cattle said they were thrilled by the "astronomical" prices achieved – with some recognisable faces in attendance.

Of the more than R10 million in cattle sold at the National Ankole Auction on Friday, a quarter by value came from the herd of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He is the biggest breeder of the majestic cattle in South Africa, from his Ntaba Nyoni Estates in eastern Mpumalanga.

See also | President Ramaphosa’s Ankole cattle just sold for R2.7 million – with bull ‘Mufasa’ voted best

On the buying side was business mogul Patrice Motsepe – who set the tone by arriving in a helicopter.

Motsepe currently has a complicated relationship with some other farmers in South Africa.

Take a look inside the auction

During remarks, Ramaphosa described the "incredible scientific innovation" that allowed the breed to be established in South Africa.

30 April 2021. President Cyril Ramaphosa during th
(James Oatway)

Disease control measures would not allow the import of animals from Uganda, where Ramaphosa encountered Ankole when he met the country's President Yoweri Museveni in 2004. Ramaphosa imported embryos instead.

Ramaphosa cast an eye over some young cows...

30 April 2021. President Ramaphosa inspects a youn
(James Oatway)

... and checked out the horns on a young bull named Kovu.

30 April 2021. President Ramaphosa inspects the ho
(James Oatway)

Kovu sold for R240,000.

Ramaphosa was not the only high-profile guest. Patrice Motsepe arrived at the auction by helicopter....

30 April 2021. One of South Africaâ??s richest men
(James Oatway)

... and spent more than R1 million.

30 April 2021. Patrice Motsepe spent more than R1-
(James Oatway)

Meanwhile, the podium featured former Springbok and Blue Bulls rugby player Victor Matfield.

30 April 2021. Auctioneer Brandon Leer at work whi
(James Oatway)

Matfield watched for bids, alongside auctioneer Brandon Leer.

The sale included such impressive specimens as Jupiter, which sold for R700,000.

30 April 2021. Jupiter the prize Ankole bull. Anko
(James Oatway)

Several cows and bulls sold for well under R100,000 each. At the other end of the spectrum, the full-bodied bull Sebastiaan sold for R300,000.


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