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The Minister of Agriculture has admitted in a reply to a DA parliamentary question (included below this statement) that it is her intention to permit the import of Sable Antelope from Zambia into South Africa, as part of a bilateral agreement with that country. The Minister states quite clearly that Zambia is not Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) free. The Democratic Alliance opposes this import, which places the meat industry in South Africa at risk, and urges the Minister and her Department to not proceed any further with this action.

It is important that South Africa meticulously implements existing national and international regulations in order to protect the local livestock industry's export and disease free status. Import permits from any country must therefore be handled and issued with the utmost care and in compliance with legislation regulating it.

In terms of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) regulations, an import from a chronic infested region cannot be declared as FMD free unless extensive analysis and preparation has been concluded. South Africa has in terms of the OIE regulations been granted FMD free status, and thus any importing of animals from Zambia has the potential to jeopardize SA's status, potentially resulting in closure of SA's meat product exports to the EU and other importing countries. The Zambian Sable offers no benefit to South Africa, only risks. In fact they are not materially different from the local Sable species.

The Red Meat Industry obtained a court ruling on 29th January 2010, to compel the Minister to provide an import risk analysis before such imports can be approved. But the DA is aware that the Department continues with its plans to grant the import licence. Why the Department and the Minister cares so much about this particular import, when one considers the numerous other challenges facing the agricultural sector in South Africa, remains to be seen.

It has come to the DA's attention from sources inside the Department that the head of the National Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Maja, as well as a number of senior staff members in the Directorate of Veterinary Services, and Food Safety and Quality Control, have been removed from their posts, and in some cases given effective demotions. This simply cannot be a coincidence. It is the view of many staff of the Department that these people were moved because they were not prepared to issue the necessary permits for the import of the Sable from Zambia. The Minister needs to explain why these people have been removed from their posts.

The Department can hardly afford to sideline experienced veterinarians as there is already a shortage of these skilled people in the employ of the State, especially when one considers that the country is currently dealing with an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever.

The DA will pursue this issue further through a series of parliamentary questions and in the Portfolio Committee.