The Democratic Alliance (DA) has criticised the Gauteng provincial government for allocating R63 million to combat the escalating Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, calling it “a tiny fraction of the province’s R179 billion budgets” and insufficient to protect farmers and the agricultural economy.
The party said farmers are already struggling with movement restrictions, collapsing markets, and rising feed costs, raising concerns that Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s administration lacks a clear strategy to protect jobs, food security, and the province’s food supply.
Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, presented a three-year provincial budget of over R500 billion on Tuesday, March 10, allocating R179.2 billion for 2026/27. The budget prioritises strengthening frontline services, accelerating infrastructure development, and maintaining fiscal discipline, while the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development received R742 million for the year.
The FMD outbreak in Gauteng has escalated into a major livestock and economic crisis, with more than 261,000 animals affected across 195 confirmed cases. The province has responded with quarantines, roadblocks, and a rapid multi-department strategy to contain the disease, but farmers continue to face disruptions to trade, collapsing markets, and rising operational costs, highlighting the outbreak’s threat to jobs, food security, and livelihoods.
Bronwynn Engelbrecht, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, said the current funding is far from enough to contain FMD in the province.
“The limited funding and lack of a clear operational plan raises serious questions about whether Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s government understands the scale of the crisis and the risk it poses to jobs, food security, and the agricultural economy of Gauteng,” she said.
Engelbrecht added that farmers who work tirelessly to produce food for Gauteng deserve more than uncertainty and inadequate funding. They deserve a government with a clear strategy that acts swiftly, communicates clearly, and understands that protecting agriculture means protecting jobs, food security, and the economic stability of the province.
She warned that the cost of inaction today will be paid tomorrow, not only by farmers, but by every household that relies on a job and affordable food on their table.
Amid the DA’s concerns over the scale of the budget, RISE Mzansi praised the Gauteng government’s R63.9 million boost to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, highlighting the need for effective implementation to combat the FMD outbreak.
The party described the allocation as “necessary and responsible,” noting that outbreaks of FMD threaten livestock farmers, disrupt food production, and put agricultural trade at risk. It said strengthening disease surveillance, biosecurity, and containment measures is crucial to protecting farmers’ livelihoods and safeguarding the broader agricultural economy.
While acknowledging that the department’s overall budget increased from R647 million to R742 million, RISE Mzansi stressed that effective implementation is key.
The party called for support for smallholder production, urban agriculture, and local food systems to ensure long-term food security, improve market access, and promote commercially viable farming, emphasising that investments must translate into tangible economic benefits for farmers and communities.
The Star
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