The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Limpopo legislature says it will write to the Agriculture Department’s MEC Nakedi Kekana to intervene, into what it calls failures by the state veterinary services to properly record and issue proof of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccinations.
The party’s Lindy Wilson says the failures undermine disease control, livestock movement management and farmers’ ability to trade commercially.
\Wilson says poor vaccination records have negative commercial consequences.
Communal farmers in Xigalo Village, near Malamulele in Limpopo, are continuing to lose livestock at an unprecedented rate due to the Foot-and-Mouth disease. pic.twitter.com/gu999yrXAC
— SABC News (@SABCNews) May 19, 2026
“If vaccination information is not recorded accurately at the time of vaccination the process becomes vulnerable to error, manipulation and potential fraud. Weak FMD record-keeping undermines disease control, damages to farmer livelihoods, disrupts lawful commercial trade and threatens confidence in Limpopo’s livestock sector. The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development must do its part by ensuring that every State-administered vaccination is properly recorded, verifiable and traceable.”
The Agriculture Department’s technical advisor, Ashell Maenetja says that their vaccination drive in Limpopo is on track.
“The State veterinary team has assisted with Foot and Mouth Disease vaccinations and recording of over 3 000 cattle in communities of Lemondokop, Thagalang, Moi-Water, Etieleng and Senwamokgopa in the Greater Letaba Local Municipality in the Mopani District. Now we are in Botlokwa community supporting the State vet team, on Wednesday and Friday we will move to the Kgapane area where RIMS teams will be deployed.”
Meanwhile, farmers say that stray buffaloes from Kruger National Park graze with their livestock, leading to the spread of the disease. The animals escape from the park due to broken fences.
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