DA flags lack of animal pounds in Limpopo amid FMD
The DA says 22 Limpopo municipalities lack operational animal pounds, warning this hampers efforts to control stray livestock and contain FMD.
TZANEEN – Greater Tzaneen Municipality is among 22 local municipalities in Limpopo that reportedly do not have operational animal pounds, according to the DA.
DA calls for provincial intervention
The party has called on the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) to urgently use its oversight and intervention powers to establish and restore functional animal pounds across the province.
DA MP Jacques Smalle said the absence of pounds increased biosecurity risks and hampered efforts to contain foot and mouth disease (FMD) by making it difficult to control stray livestock and enforce restrictions on unauthorised animal movements.
“Limpopo is on the frontline of FMD exposure. The province borders neighbouring countries, has a high-risk wildlife-livestock interface and serves as a critical buffer protecting the rest of South Africa. Against this background, the absence of properly established and operational animal pounds undermines disease containment and effective livestock control,” he said.
Department of Agriculture responds
However, Mosupulogo Mothotse, director of communication services at the Department of Agriculture, said Greater Tzaneen falls within the FMD protection zone, where cattle are routinely vaccinated.
She said cattle were initially vaccinated every four months using vaccines manufactured in Botswana, but are now vaccinated every six months with vaccines supplied by Dollvet (Türkiye) and Biogenesis Bago (Argentina).
Regular inspections and vaccination protocols
Veterinary services also conduct weekly, fortnightly and monthly livestock inspections for FMD and other diseases, while animal movements are strictly regulated through veterinary permits. Vaccinated cattle are identified with ear tags.
“In the Greater Tzaneen area, the recent outbreak occurred in the FMD high-surveillance area of the free zone. All affected and at-risk cattle have since been vaccinated, and a booster vaccination campaign is scheduled to commence in September 2026 as part of ongoing disease control measures,” Mothotse said.
Municipality distances itself from pound issue
She added that animal pounds are municipal infrastructure and do not fall under the Department of Agriculture.
Greater Tzaneen Municipality spokesperson Vutivi Makhubele said the municipality was not involved with animal pounds and referred the Herald to the Department of Agriculture.
