by Bronwynn Engelbrecht MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development
| As the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) continues to threaten livestock farmers across Gauteng, the provincial government has allocated R63 million to fight the outbreak, a tiny fraction of the province’s R179 billion budget. This is not enough to contain FMD in the province. Farmers are already facing movement restrictions, collapsing markets, and rising feed costs. The limited funding and lack of a clear operational plan raises serious questions about whether Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s government understands the scale of the crisis and the risk it poses to jobs, food security, and the agricultural economy of Gauteng. For the 2026/27 financial year, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has been allocated R742 million, with only a small amount of this being earmarked to combat FMD. This funding does not indicate that the Gauteng government grasps that this is a disease capable of devastating livestock farming, disrupting food supply chains, and destroying jobs across the agricultural economy. Farmers who work tirelessly to produce food for Gauteng deserve more than uncertainty and inadequate funding. They deserve a government with a clear strategy that acts swiftly, communicates clearly, and understands that protecting agriculture means protecting jobs, food security, and the economic stability of the province. The cost of inaction today will be paid tomorrow, not only by farmers, but by every household that relies on a job and affordable food on their table. A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would have prioritised allocating adequate budget to contain FMD and support affected farmers. |