Note to Editors: Please note Sakhile Mngadi, MPL sound bites in English and isiZulu
The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) welcomes the delivery of one million Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine doses by Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, including the allocation of 200 000 doses to our province.
This intervention is necessary and appreciated. Our farmers have been desperate for decisive support, and this consignment is a step in the right direction.
However, vaccines alone do not constitute a strategy and KZN needs a proper FMD protocol which must include the declaration of a Provincial State of Disaster in order to ensure;
• Properly enforced quarantine zones
• Hard lockdowns on animal movement with visible roadblocks
• Coordinated enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.
• Accurate FMD reporting and transparent figures and;
• Active support measures by national authorities to protect our farmers and the provincial economy.
Without these measures in place, a vaccination programme risks being undermined by continued, uncontrolled livestock movement. An effective FMD response requires containment first, then vaccination – not the other way around.
A Provincial State of Disaster would unlock critical funding mechanisms, coordinated enforcement powers and potential relief packages for farmers already financially ruined by this crisis.
There can be no half-measures when it comes to FMD. KZN needs urgency, coordination, and leadership. The DA reiterates its call to Premier Ntuli: Declare a Provincial State of Disaster now, strengthen containment measures, and give our farmers a fighting chance.