Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Dewald Hattingh and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Tim Mpakathe.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mantsopa will formally escalate the growing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) risk in Excelsior and hand the relevant municipal by-laws to SAPS to enable immediate enforcement support against uncontrolled roaming cattle. The continued movement of livestock, including animals reportedly crossing from Lesotho, now poses a serious and urgent threat to farmers, food security, and the local economy.
The situation of uncontrolled roaming cattle in Excelsior has reached a level that cannot be ignored. The continued movement of livestock poses a serious and immediate threat to farmers, food security, and the local economy due to the risk of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).
What makes this crisis more alarming is that Mantsopa Local Municipality lacks the capacity, systems, and urgency to manage the problem. Laws exist. By-laws exist. But enforcement has failed.
Stray and roaming cattle are not just a nuisance; they are a biosecurity hazard. Every uncontrolled animal movement increases the risk of disease spread that could devastate commercial farmers, small-scale livestock owners, and agricultural jobs across the region. If FMD spreads further because authorities failed to act, the consequences will be economic and long-lasting.
It is unacceptable that:
- Roaming livestock continues without proper control.
- Border-related risks to animal movement are not being urgently addressed.
- Law enforcement has not been properly empowered with municipal by-laws to assist.
- Farmers are left exposed while government structures delay action.
As a DA Councillor, I will formally hand over the relevant municipal by-laws to SAPS to enable enforcement support. However, this should have been done long ago. This step is necessary because the municipality has not shown the ability to act with the required speed or seriousness.
This is no longer just a local issue; it is a provincial and national agricultural risk.
We demand:
- Immediate intervention from the Free State Department of Agriculture.
- Veterinary authorities are to urgently assess and monitor the situation.
- Stronger control of cross-border livestock movement.
- Joint operations between SAPS, Traffic Services, and Agricultural authorities.
- Clear accountability from the Mantsopa Local Municipality on enforcement failures.
The government cannot wait for an outbreak to begin before reacting. Prevention is cheaper than disaster recovery, but only if there is leadership and political will.
Farmers follow regulations, vaccinate, and comply with movement rules. They deserve a government that does the same in enforcing the law.
We will continue to escalate this matter until decisive action is taken.