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AfriForum welcomes the decision to cut short John Steenhuisen’s term as Minister of Agriculture. The civil rights organisation is optimistic that the appointment of Willie Aucamp, current Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, is a positive development in the effort to address the foot-and-mouth crisis, which has been poorly managed thus far, and to achieve real solutions for the agricultural sector.

According to Lambert de Klerk, Manager of Environmental Affairs at AfriForum, the Department’s handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis has not borne much fruit so far. 

“Serious mistakes were made at a time when this department had to look after the interests of farmers. However, Aucamp now has the opportunity to rectify the situation. He must now resist the state’s unsuccessful centralist approach in particular in handling the foot-and-mouth crisis and encourage and achieve the devolution of responsibilities to farmers themselves,” explains De Klerk.

AfriForum insists that a stronger and more integrated approach to foot-and-mouth disease should now be prioritised. “Aucamp must ensure that farmers – with the necessary monitoring by the department – ​​are allowed to purchase and administer the vaccine themselves. The department must also ensure that enough vaccine is imported so that all animals can be given the required doses and the re-spread of the disease can be prevented,” De Klerk emphasises.

In addition to the immediate need for strong action in the midst of the current crisis, Aucamp’s department should also prioritise the following: the rebuilding and expansion of local vaccine manufacturing capacity; and the substantive strengthening of state veterinary services to ensure, among other things, effective disease control.

AfriForum also acknowledges the numerous additional cabinet changes that were announced today and is confident that these changes will be advantageous to all citizens.

Issued by AfriForum