Livestock auction ban due to foot and mouth disease to stay in place

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) says the ban on livestock sales imposed on all provinces in South Africa, has not been lifted.

According to SABC News, the national ban was imposed in September 2019 due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), particularly in the Limpopo province. This led to the closure of all cattle feedlot, livestock auctions and free-market sales.

14 Limpopo farms affected by livestock ban 

According to the department’s spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo, 14 farms in Limpopo with an estimated 20 000 herds of cattle are affected.

“We can confirm that there’s no decision that has been taken to uplift the ban on the movement of animals,” said Ngcobo. 

“We are working very closely with the industry to come up with movement control measures to ensure that when the minister is advised to uplift the ban, then there are control measures in place,” he added. 

AgriSA on livestock ban

AgriSA executive director Omri van Zyl said the ban puts insurmountable pressure on already cash-strapped farmers. 

“This will have an adverse economic impact on the agricultural sector. The national banning of livestock auctions comes at a time when farmers are already cash-strapped and adds additional pressure on the sustainability of farmers,” said Van Zyl. 

Farm murders and stock theft

Meanwhile, the department has expressed outrage at the high number of farm murders and the increase in stock theft that have been reported during the festive season.

According to the crime stats released in Parliament in September 2019, 47 farm murders were reported in the 2018-2019 financial year.

Stock theft in the country is now up by 2.9% with almost 30 000 animals having been stolen between April 2018 and March 2019. Cattle have been the prime target of stock thieves, followed by sheep, goat and horses.

“[Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development] Minister Thoko Didiza has expressed outrage at the number of stock theft that has been reported this festive season, as well as some murders of farmers. The minister believes that the loss of livestock to stock theft has not only impacted those who were directly affected, but the entire livestock industry,” said Ngcobo. 

“She also wishes to send her deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones through these attacks on farmers and farmworkers. She trusts our law enforcement agencies will do what it takes to put those responsible behind bars.”