Note to Editors: Please note Sakhile Mngadi, MPL sound bites in English and isiZulu
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) notes with concern the announcement of a livestock movement ban in the province following the continued spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
While decisive intervention is necessary to protect KZN’s agricultural economy, the manner in which this restriction has been implemented once again highlights the lack of a co-ordinated provincial strategy to deal with what has become one of the most serious agricultural crises in recent years.
During last weeks’ Agriculture Performance Debate in the KZN Legislature, the DA warned that the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (DARD) reactive approach, weak enforcement mechanisms and failure to establish a province-wide coordinated response would deepen the crisis and place emerging and commercial farmers under immense pressure. Sadly, those warnings have now become reality.
A blanket movement ban without a properly communicated implementation framework, support mechanisms for affected farmers, clear permit systems, intensified biosecurity enforcement and economic relief measures will create panic, disrupt trade and threaten livelihoods across our province. Farmers, transporters and auction houses are being left uncertain while illegal livestock movement continues in many areas, with little visible enforcement.
The DA remains concerned that KZN failed to push aggressively for a Provincial State of Disaster (PSD) which would have enabled a far more coordinated response, emergency funding mechanisms, interdepartmental cooperation and stronger enforcement capacity.
KZN’s agricultural sector cannot survive on press statements and fragmented directives. As a responsible partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) the DA calls for:
- An urgent multi-stakeholder provincial FMD command council;
- Increased visible enforcement against illegal livestock movement;
- Daily public reporting on vaccinations, infections and containment zones;
- Emergency economic relief interventions for affected farmers; and
- Accelerated vaccine procurement and local production support.
Our province’s agricultural economy is too important to be managed through crisis improvisation. Government – at both national and provincial level – must lead with urgency, transparency and coordination before irreversible damage is done.