Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbite by Beyers Smit.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the Gauteng High Court’s affirmation of government’s regulatory authority in managing South Africa’s response to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). This outcome reinforces the importance of a coordinated, lawful, and science-based approach to safeguarding the country’s livestock sector and protecting vital export markets.
The judgment provides necessary clarity on the process and timeframe for the Department of Agriculture to publish its vaccination scheme. The DA supports a structured national framework that ensures traceability, vaccine integrity, and effective disease control, while maintaining alignment with both national legislation and international standards.
We believe the Department will now move swiftly to finalise and implement the vaccination scheme, ensuring that farmers and industry stakeholders are fully informed and meaningfully included in the process.
The DA will continue to support the department in its efforts to ensure that South Africa’s biosecurity response remains credible, transparent, and effective in stabilising outbreaks and protecting the national herd.