LIMPOPO – The DA has called on the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) to intervene urgently to address the shortage of operational animal pound facilities across the province, warning that the situation could undermine efforts to contain foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

DA provincial legislature member Jacques Smalle said the lack of functioning animal pound facilities poses a serious biosecurity risk at a time when Limpopo remains under measures to control the spread of FMD.

Smalle warned that if left unaddressed, the shortage of operational animal pound facilities would weaken efforts to contain the disease and threaten the livelihoods of livestock farmers throughout the province.

Only 3 of 22 municipalities have pounds

According to Smalle, only three of Limpopo’s 22 municipalities have operational animal pound facilities. He said the shortage makes it difficult to control stray livestock and enforce restrictions on unauthorised animal movement, thereby increasing the risk of the disease spreading.

“This failure increases biosecurity risks and weakens FMD containment by hampering the control of stray livestock and the enforcement of restrictions on unauthorised livestock movement,” he said.

DA demands provincial intervention

Smalle called on CoGHSTA to act before the situation worsens.

“The DA demands that Limpopo’s CoGHSTA urgently exercise its oversight, support and intervention powers and present a clear province-wide plan to establish and restore functional pound arrangements,” he said.

He further urged CoGHSTA MEC Basikopo Makamu to ensure municipalities establish and maintain functional animal pound facilities, particularly in light of the ongoing need to contain FMD.

A breakdown in coordination

“The absence of functional pound arrangements across most Limpopo municipalities reflects municipal failure, inadequate provincial oversight, and a serious breakdown in interdepartmental coordination,” Smalle said.

He added that the DA had previously raised the matter with Limpopo MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana, whose department is leading the provincial response to FMD.

“We have called for cooperation between the two departments to ensure that appropriate pound arrangements are established,” he said, adding that no meaningful progress had been made.

CoGHSTA distances itself from the issue

However, when approached for comment, CoGHSTA distanced itself from the issue, saying that the responsibility rests with the district municipalities.

“Please check with Mopani; they will tell you why they are not doing their job,” said CoGHSTA spokesperson Tsakani Baloyi.

Mopani yet to respond

Questions were subsequently sent to Mopani District Municipality seeking clarity on the matter and the availability of animal pound facilities within the district. However, no response had been received at the time of publication.