As foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) closed in on Mayor Chris Pappas’s uMngeni Local Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands late last year, he ultimately called on the state to urgently deploy police and army resources to help stem the scourge, but his request was in vain. His municipality arguably set an example by implementing measures to delay and mitigate the inevitable arrival and spread of FMD.
By Lloyd Phillips, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Despite South Africa’s municipalities being legally mandated to prevent or manage livestock diseases within their boundaries, particularly on commonages and other public areas, reportedly very few are doing so. Among the latter are the uMngeni Local Municipality (uMngeni) in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and that appears to be taking a no-nonsense stand against irresponsible behaviour that can potentially spread FMD further among the numerous livestock within its 1 567km² geographical area.
Chris Pappas, the mayor of this municipality, the only DA-led municipality in the province, told African Farming that although a comprehensive vaccination campaign will be the only way to stop FMD within and beyond uMngeni’s boundaries, “all other measures we are implementing are intended to delay this disease’s spread”.
These measures include:
- erecting signs highlighting areas of enhanced biosecurity;
- implementing education programmes for communal and other small-scale livestock owners;
- helping disseminate relevant information from the national and provincial agriculture departments to farmers;
- implementing awareness campaigns among uMngeni’s non-farming residents and visitors;
- training municipal traffic officers to enforce animal control and movement laws;
- providing branding irons to communal dip-tank committees;
- doing livestock counts for KwaZulu-Natal’s department of agriculture;
- ensuring that there is a functional livestock pound service;
- systematically removing stray livestock and livestock from urban areas; and
- preparing to assist with the distribution and application of FMD vaccines throughout the municipality.
Self-funded with Little Government Help
Pappas explained that these measures are being funded by the uMngeni municipality using income from rates and tariffs it collects from its citizens and local businesses.
“To date we have not received any assistance from any other government department except from the state vets, who have been on the ground here and helpful.”
Although uMngeni is one of KwaZulu-Natal’s smallest local municipalities in terms of its geographical size, it has diverse types and scales of livestock ownership and production. There are commercial dairy, beef and pig farms, as well as small-scale and communal ownership of cattle, goats and pigs.
“The biggest area of infection is the Lions River area and, more recently, the Birnamwood area.”
In a recent notice to its residents, uMngeni advised that all stray livestock must be reported and that such animals will be impounded. They will only be released once prescribed fines have been paid.
“Vehicles transporting livestock may be stopped [by authorities] and required to produce the relevant permits. Failure to produce these documents will result in the vehicle being transported by uMngeni traffic police to the large animal pound, and the stock theft unit being notified.
“In all cases where animals are impounded, they will be checked for the required identification and markings. Where animals are not properly identified, an additional fine will be imposed before release. This is in line with the Animal Identification Act (Act 6 of 2002).”
uMngeni has also called on businesses whose operations and personnel could inadvertently contribute to spreading FMD into, within or from the municipality to implement and adhere to biosecurity practices like disinfecting personnel, vehicles and equipment.
Some are in Favour, Others are Not
Pappas says not all livestock owners, agribusinesses and landowners within uMngeni are fully in support of the municipality’s FMD mitigation measures.
“There are two main issues of contention. First, dairy farmers and red meat producers are at odds about live animal sales at the local sales yards. Second, some informal traders believe that strict implementation of the Stock Theft Act (Act 57 of 1959) is an infringement on their cultural rights as they pertain to ritual slaughter.”
Despite these challenges, uMngeni is also aware of the financial difficulties that FMD is causing local farmers. To help soften this blow, the municipal council recently approved rates relief for affected property owners. This was subsequently also approved by the provincial treasury and will be rolled out to affected farmers “in the next week”.
Brett Bisschoff, chairperson of the Howick District Landowners Association within uMngeni, says his association “remains available to support and engage constructively with the municipality when called on, in the interest of managing FMD responsibly and protecting the broader agricultural community”.
Angus Williamson, chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, says he was invited to recently address the uMngeni municipal council and municipal safety and security officials about FMD.
“I think that uMngeni is doing something good. At least the municipality is trying. I commend it for working with its various farming communities and livestock owners to try to help protect and support them. It’s not easy.”
Also read:
FMD vaccinations: ‘KZN will be ready to roll immediately’ – public/private stakeholders
Steenhuisen to ‘pour heart and soul’ into FMD fight
FMD | So close to solutions, so far from action
