Stock theft, fighting FMD high on NW and WC priority list

The North West provincial government has pledged to intensify its fight against rampant stock theft by reviving the Provincial and Stock Theft Forum as well as the Stock Theft Information Centres (STICs). These structures will ensure that all incidents of stock theft are properly reported and perpetrators arrested.

In delivering his State of the Province Address, North West premier Lazarus Mokgosi said they have put systems in place to address stock theft challenges.

“These measures will include enhancing and monitoring the implementation of the national rural safety strategy. While we have reduced this criminal activity by five percent, where over 200 people were arrested, we will increase the footprint of police to improve visibility and accessibility to deter future incidents,” he said.

FMD control measures for livestock industry

Mokgosi said they are working closely with the national government, industry stakeholders, and farmers to intensify foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) control measures, enforcing biosecurity protocols, and supporting affected producers to stabilise the livestock industry and protect the provincial agricultural economy.

“Through our poverty alleviation and job creation initiatives in our rural and farming communities, we have allocated R50 million to improve the red meat infrastructure, benefiting close to 2 000 emerging farmers.

“I must indicate that our province has been significantly affected by the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease. We have adopted a progressive control plan for the province and have reached a stage of vaccination. We will receive a consignment of 100 000 vaccines for distribution
earmarked for next week Friday,” he said.

FMD checkpoints in the Western Cape

Western Cape premier Alan Winde said, in his State of the Province Address this week, they have rolled out vehicle checkpoints across 13 municipalities, and contained all confirmed outbreaks for FMD.

“So far, 12 000 vaccines have been administered across the province, with over 7 500 animals vaccinated in informal settlements along the Garden Route this past weekend.

“About 30 000 additional doses of vaccine are on their way to the province from national government. This will be scaled up over the coming weeks, and we will work to ensure that the Western Cape is given its fair share of vaccines,” he explained.

Winde also addressed climate change, saying it is not only an environmental priority, but also an economic imperative.

“We see the impact of this crisis every year. Bridges washed away and roads damaged in floods, homes and hectares of farmland and fynbos destroyed by wildfires.

“The impact and reach of the climate crisis extends far and wide, across our province and economy, touching lives and livelihoods. Climate change knows no borders; it does not keep to timetables. Each year, its impact becomes more evident in the heavy rains, storm surges, flooding, heat waves, and now, as we are seeing in some regions, drought,” he said.