The case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) confirmed last week in the Western Cape proves that “what we’ve been doing up to now is not working,” says Dewald Olivier, CEO of Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS).

By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Farmers who are starting to set up their own roadblocks in their districts together with local authorities have the support of RMIS.

“I don’t even want to comment on the police’s capacity to establish roadblocks to control the movement of animals in FMD red zones,” Olivier says. “Ultimately, if we want to protect the industry, we’ll have to do it ourselves.”

He encourages farmers’ associations that are already setting up or planning to set up roadblocks to inform their local police and invite them to participate.

“As far as RMIS is concerned, we have only nine people in the office. We cannot be everywhere on the ground, but we will help where we can and support farmers who are taking steps to implement their own roadblocks.”

He adds that the spread of the disease to the Western Cape is a clear indication that “what we’ve done up to now is not working”.

Free State Agriculture Warns Farmers Not to Stop Vehicles on Public Roads

Free State Agriculture (FSA) has advised farmers that it is very important to know that they are not allowed to stop vehicles on public roads on their own initiative.

FSA has expressed concern about the spread of FMD, and urges farmers to strictly apply their own biosecurity measures. It says cooperation with state veterinarians and their staff is essential to prevent further spread of the disease. Any suspected cases should be reported immediately.

“This is a state-controlled disease, and must be monitored and regulated by the Department of Agriculture and the police. We are aware, however, of the shortage of manpower in both departments.

“It remains extremely important that farmers know that they may not stop any vehicles on a public road. This may only be done in cooperation with the police, traffic officers and, if necessary, the South African National Defence Force,” says Isabel Kruger, FSA’s livestock theft safety representative.

Also read: Western Cape rallies to contain foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), sets up roadblocks

Possible Further Cases

This week, Sparta Beef announced in a statement that a case of fraud is being investigated relating to the possible falsification of documentation accompanying cattle transported from Gouda to Clocolan.

Also read: Fraud probe launched after cattle with possible FMD delivered to Sparta feedlot

Olivier says they are aware that not all FMD outbreaks are being reported, as is legally required. Livestock owners may have gotten away with this until now, but the lesions caused by the disease are now appearing in those herds – making it clear that the law was broken by failing to report them.

He expects that further cases of contraventions of the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984) will be investigated, although prosecutions in this regard are very difficult.

Holding people accountable under this act for the illegal movement of animals is challenging, Olivier says, because the burden of proof on the government is so heavy. “It’s the same as the burden of proof in a murder case,” he says.