South Africa’s largest farming federation has sounded the alarm over the Draft Mineral Resources Development Amendment Bill, saying the proposal could open productive farmland to unchecked mining and erode the nation’s ability to feed itself.

Published for public comment in May, the Bill would let artisanal and small-scale miners enter private agricultural land with no clear rules on consultation or compensation. AgriSA argues that this change undermines constitutionally protected property rights and could destabilise high-potential cropping regions that anchor domestic grain and horticulture supply.

“The Bill introduces provisions that would allow artisanal and small-scale mining operations to access private agricultural land without any guidance as to how meaningful consultation should take place or on compensation requirements,” the organisation notes, warning that irrigation systems, topsoil, and groundwater could be ruined with little recourse for farmers.

AgriSA is equally concerned that lawmakers bypassed the mandatory Socio-Economic Impact Assessment, a step that would have highlighted cumulative threats to rural livelihoods, water quality, and national food production. It says the draft also omits binding rehabilitation guarantees, leaving landowners exposed to long-term environmental damage.

The federation urges the government to withdraw the Bill, run a full impact study and align any future version with the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Act. It also wants compulsory landowner consent and tougher cumulative impact reviews before mining permits are granted, arguing that balanced resource development is vital to safeguard food security and the rural economy.

Through the agricultural policy lens, AgriSA’s warning signals the growing tension between resource extraction and food security, underscoring the need for measured policy reform that protects the country’s most productive land.