The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo says failures in recording foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccinations are affecting disease control and livestock trade in the province.
DA provincial spokesperson Marie Helm said the party will write to the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Nakedi Kekana, requesting urgent intervention. Helm said state veterinary services are failing to maintain proper vaccination records, a concern arising from an incident in the Vhembe area, where cattle were vaccinated on 17 and 18 March.
Farmers were not given immediate proof linked to individual animals. Helm said the farmer later required the documents for auction purposes, as livestock from FMD-affected areas cannot be moved or sold without proof of vaccination. She added that the farmer waited several weeks for confirmation.
She said the documents were only provided after intervention. Records, she said, must include ear-tag numbers, vaccination dates, vaccine batch details, and the strain or type used, and must also carry the stamp and signature of the veterinary authority.
“The State Veterinary team’s duty, once it vaccinated the cattle, was to record and confirm the vaccination event by reference to the farmer’s animal identification records,” Helm said.
The DA warned that poor record-keeping creates risks, including errors, manipulation and possible fraud. It also weakens traceability and livestock movement control.
Helm said farmers suffer commercial losses as they require valid certificates to trade and access auctions. The party has called on the department to ensure all vaccinations are properly recorded and immediately verifiable.