(Debate in the Gauteng Legislature on foot-and-mouth disease)
The continued spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Gauteng and the fact that much of the livestock in the province are unregulated and unregistered pose a serious risk to the province’s agricultural sector.
Although the Department of Agriculture emphasises the roll-out of vaccines and other control measures, the greatest challenge remains the inability to effectively monitor and verify the movement and origin of all livestock.
Unregistered animals traded or transported through informal channels create a critical weakness in the biosecurity system. Without proper identification and traceability, the detection of infected herds and the containment of outbreaks are almost impossible.
No disease control programme will succeed if authorities do not have control over the movement of livestock within the province.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus)-led Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Environmental Affairs will hold the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, law enforcement agencies and the agricultural community accountable, while imploring them to urgently collaborate on the implementation of a comprehensive livestock identification and traceability system, routine inspections and stricter enforcement of existing legislation.
Food security, job opportunities and the sustainability of Gauteng’s agricultural sector depend on it.
