South Africa urged to declare state of disaster over foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
The Freedom Front Plus has called on the government to declare a state of disaster as South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease outbreak deepens
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The Freedom Front Plus has called on the government to declare a state of disaster as South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease outbreak deepens, warning that years of inaction have left farmers, the livestock industry and food security at serious risk.
IOL reported that the country has been battling FMD for several months, prompting key trading partners, including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and China, to suspend imports of meat and related animal products from the country.
The government has also moved to address the crisis. Last year, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced a national vaccination drive aimed at containing the disease, including plans to vaccinate the entire cattle herd, starting in the worst-affected provinces.
“The Department of Agriculture has resolved to implement a comprehensive strategy to vaccinate the entire national herd. This initiative will position us to apply to the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) for recognition of freedom with vaccination status,” he said.
“This plan, however, will rely on a consistent, high-quality vaccine supply.”
However, the crisis has continued to affect farmers and the broader agricultural value chain, with industry bodies warning that the slow vaccine rollout and weak enforcement of movement controls are allowing the disease to spread further.
Dewald Olivier, chief executive officer (CEO) at Red Meat Industry Services, told IOL last year that the government's response to the crisis has been "partially effective".
"While there are isolated successes, the response is constrained by structural weaknesses, fragmented decision-making, and a lack of strategic coherence."
VF Plus agriculture spokesperson Wynand Boshoff said the outbreak was the result of years of neglect and warned that the situation would continue to deteriorate without urgent intervention. He called on the government to declare a state of disaster to unlock emergency funding.
"The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) insists that a state of disaster be declared to contain the crisis of foot-and-mouth disease in the beef industry. This drastic step is warranted because ministerial task teams’ recommendations have not been implemented since 2016," Boshoff said.
"Foot-and-mouth disease is like any other contagious disease: if it is detected early and its spread is contained, it will not turn into a crisis.
"Declaring a state of disaster would mean that additional public funds could be secured and spent exclusively on curbing the disease. The capacity to manufacture the correct vaccine exists in South Africa, but it has to be activated."
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
IOL Business