Willie Spies writes an open letter to Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp about long-term food security in Pretoria

Willie Spies, the Freedom Front Plus’ mayoral candidate for the City of Tshwane, has written an open letter to Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp.

In his open letter to Aucamp, Spies raises concerns about job losses, reduced household incomes, and affordability challenges stemming from AI and automation.

He highlighted the need to safeguard urban agriculture, agricultural technology, and local food production.

He also pointed to pressures on food systems, including energy costs and farm attacks, which threaten the industry.

He requested a meeting with the Minister or officials to discuss policy solutions, national support, and potential collaboration.

Aucamp is expected to respond to this letter, as Spies is one of South Africa’s most experienced and respected Afrikaans politicians.

He is a Freedom Front Plus stalwart who served as one of the party’s four representatives in the National Assembly from 2004 to 2009.

In 2009, he stepped back from politics to return to full-time legal practice at his firm, Hurter Spies, where he handled many high-profile cases.

He is also a prominent figure at his alma mater, the University of Pretoria, where he served as chairperson of the Tuks Alumni Board.

Spies further served as the executive chairperson of Pretoria FM for fifteen years, where he steered the radio station through many challenges.

On 14 February 2026, the Freedom Front Plus announced that Spies was their mayoral candidate for the Tshwane Metro.

Since then, he has been actively campaigning for the Freedom Front Plus ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The full letter from Willie Spies to Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp is provided below.

REQUEST FOR A DISCUSSION ON FOOD SECURITY IN TSHWANE/PRETORIA IN LIGHT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND FUTURE LABOUR CHANGES

I am writing to you in my capacity as the regional leader of the Freedom Front Plus and mayoral candidate for Tshwane.

The Tshwane metro area covers 6,398 km², of which 19% or roughly 1,215.62 km² is used for intensive agriculture. During our election campaign over the past ten months in all parts of the metro, we became deeply aware, on the one hand, of the significant role agriculture plays in the metro and, on the other hand, of the severe impact of unemployment on the residents of the metro area.

The purpose of this letter is to submit a formal request for a discussion regarding the long-term food security of residents—and especially children and future generations—in Pretoria and the broader Tshwane metro.

We stand on the threshold of an era in which artificial intelligence and automation are expected to take over a large portion of existing labour and alter income streams. This has potential consequences for household income, purchasing power, and the ability of families to afford basic food.

In a densely populated urban environment like Tshwane, where many residents are already under pressure due to service delivery challenges, economic uncertainty, and food prices, it is essential that we think proactively about how food security can be protected in such a future.

The VF Plus is concerned about the following:

• The sustainability of food supply and affordability for households in Pretoria if traditional labour and income sources decrease significantly.
• If artificial intelligence takes over many jobs, how will households still afford food and electricity? This also includes the possibility of further discussions with the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
• The role of local and urban agriculture, small-scale production, and resilient food systems in major metropoles.
• Planning for agricultural innovation, technology deployment in the agricultural sector itself, and the protection of local production capacity.
• How national policy and support can help protect urban communities—and especially young families and children—against food insecurity.
• Your department’s existing plans to handle the implications of artificial intelligence and automation for food security, and whether any available plans or policy documents can be shared with me in advance in preparation for our conversation.

Food and energy security cannot be planned in isolation from each other. We must prepare now for the potential consequences of large-scale changes in labour and income, including for the residents of our capital city.

This advance planning must also take into account existing pressures on our food system, including the safety of farmers and farm workers and attacks and murders on farms. The consequences of these issues also affect the reliability and affordability of food for households in our capital city.

We believe that an open and constructive discussion between the Department of Agriculture and local stakeholders in Tshwane can be valuable. I therefore kindly request an opportunity to meet with you or your senior officials to discuss these matters, explore potential collaboration, and hear how national agricultural policy and programmes can support the unique challenges of a major urban centre like Pretoria.

I am available for a meeting at a time and place convenient for you, and will gladly provide any further information or background that may be required.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Willie Spies