Seeing as there have been a number of confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth disease in the Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality (Nylstroom, Naboomspruit, Alma, Vaalwater, Roedtan), the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) finds it seriously alarming that the by-laws needed to manage the outbreak are not in place.
A major cause for concern is that, since the merger of the Modimolle and Mookgophong Municipalities in 2016, no effort has been made to update municipal by-laws. The two Municipalities had different by-laws, which would not stand up in court.
According to the Municipality, it lacks the funds needed to put the by-laws in place, yet the Council itself can compile them at no cost. Important municipal by-laws – including those relating to noise disturbance, stray animals, hawkers and heavy vehicles parking overnight in streets – are absent in this Municipality.
Since 2016, the Freedom Front Plus has raised the need for these municipal by-laws every financial year when budgets are discussed, but the matter receives no attention.
Stray animals have been a major problem across the province for years and the ANC-controlled municipalities’ laxity – simply ignoring or dismissing complaints – has a direct impact on the agricultural sector’s economic progress.
Containing herds of animals infected with foot-and-mouth disease is crucial in curbing it. Law-abiding commercial farmers respect containment measures and implement biosecurity protocols, but there are currently no by-laws to prevent the illegal movement or free grazing of stray animals.
The Municipality simply has to promulgate the relevant legislation. If it fails to do so, the Municipality could face criminal liability should losses occur. The hard-working, law-abiding agricultural community is now paying the price for the ANC’s incompetence and dereliction of duty.
The Freedom Front Plus is willing and able to draft the by-laws itself, and table them to the Council for adoption and eventual promulgation.
