Calls for precaution on the movement of all cloven-hoofed animals have been made after the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development put a ban on the movement of cattle for three weeks.
On Tuesday, Minister Thoko Didiza announced the ban in light of the uptick in the number of foot-and-mouth disease cases reported in the country.
The department said the ban was an attempt to stop the further spread of the disease.
Didiza’s spokesperson, Reggie Ngcobo, said the suspension was effective for 21 days and would be reviewed weekly.
“The country is experiencing 116 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease involving farms, feedlots and communal areas in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Free State,” said Ngcobo.
He said the movement of cattle during the ban would only be allowed on a veterinary permit and only for slaughter at registered abattoirs and for ritual purposes.
Didiza said cattle that were already at shows, auctions and en route to the country would be given 48 hours to be moved to their destinations after being sold, and a veterinary permit would be needed to facilitate the movement.
She also warned those who would illegally move cattle during this period that they would face criminal charges.
Didiza said that while the ban was applicable to cattle, caution should be applied to the movement of all cloven-hoofed animals such as sheep, goats, pigs and game animals.
Wildlife Ranching South Africa, which represents game farmers, also called for precautions to be taken.
“All movements of all cloven-hoofed animals should, however, be undertaken with caution. It is crucially important that biosecurity measures, including the deep disinfection with a disinfectant approved to be effective against (foot-and-mouth disease) should be observed when the movement of animals into areas with other animals do take place,” said the organisation.
The ban will be declared in a government gazette yet to be published.
Agri Western Cape said it would wait for the gazette to be published in order to understand the detail within the regulations.