John Steenhuisen, the minister of agriculture, stepped in himself on Friday to help with the administration of vaccines in KwaZulu-Natal. (Photo: Department of Agriculture)
The DA welcomes the intensified vaccination campaign to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, after the disease has already spread in all nine provinces in South Africa.
John Steenhuisen, the minister of agriculture, stepped in himself on Friday to help with the administration of vaccines in KwaZulu-Natal, where the outbreak has already had a serious financial and emotional impact on farmers, farm workers and the wider community.
The campaign comes shortly after the arrival of one million doses of vaccine last Saturday – the largest bulk order yet in the country.
According to Beyers Smit, DA MP and a member of the portfolio committee on agriculture, the speed at which this stock was handled is encouraging for the entire sector. The doses were dispatched to all nine provinces in just four days.
“Rapid distribution is critical during a disease outbreak. Ensuring that vaccines reach veterinary teams on the ground in time is essential to limiting the spread of the disease and restoring confidence in South Africa’s livestock industry.”
Future objectives and constitutional duties
The minister further committed to importing another 12 million doses of vaccine in the coming months. This step is necessary to strengthen South Africa’s capacity for disease control and to achieve the goal of vaccinating 80% of the national herd by the end of 2026.
(Photo: iStock)
However, Smit says the national government cannot do it alone:
“It is important to emphasize that, although the national government is responsible for the purchase and coordination of vaccines, their actual administration at ground level is primarily a provincial competence in terms of Article 5 of the Constitution of South Africa.
“Provincial veterinary services therefore play a decisive role in the success of the vaccination campaign. This includes the identification of priority areas, the deployment of veterinary staff and the execution of vaccination programs among affected and high-risk herds.”
The DA has made an urgent appeal to all provincial departments to urgently intensify their efforts on the ground and work closely with farmers to ensure that as many livestock as possible are vaccinated.
Cooperation in the KZN dairy industry
Various actors in KwaZulu-Natal have meanwhile joined hands to strengthen the logistics behind the vaccination campaign and support the distribution of vaccines.
The collaboration includes partnerships between Orange Grove Dairy, the Milk Producers Organization (MPO), the KZN dairy industry and the provincial department of agriculture. Two vehicles are currently deployed to facilitate the distribution, one of which has been sponsored by FNB.
Two vehicles are currently deployed to facilitate the distribution of vaccines, one of which was sponsored by FNB. (Photo: Provided)
Dawie Maree, head of agricultural information and marketing at FNB Agribusiness, says everyone must work together.
“Foot and mouth disease is a shared risk for the agricultural sector and the economy. Responding to it requires collaboration between farmers, industry bodies, government and the private sector. Our role is simply to support collective efforts that help protect production, jobs and food supplies.”
The DA will closely monitor the progress of the campaign. According to Smit, an effective and well-coordinated vaccination campaign is essential to protect jobs, food safety and export markets.