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The Democratic Alliance (DA) will intensify oversight and direct engagement with local, provincial, and national government to ensure that Mangaung Metro immediately implements adequate measures to prevent a Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak.

Not only will the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Mangaung have a devastating effect on the agricultural sector, but it will also be a massive blow to Mangaung’s already collapsing economy, making it harder for job seekers to find jobs and increasing the cost of living.

Although Mangaung has been actively engaging organised agriculture within its jurisdiction, with the support of the Free State provincial government, the biggest threat has been left in limbo. The biggest threats to the outbreak of FMD are stray and free-roaming livestock and the lack of a municipal pound within the municipal jurisdiction.

The only pound facilities currently available are through a memorandum of understanding agreement with the SPCA, but their facilities do not have adequate capacity to impound the hordes of livestock.

Mangaung is experiencing a pandemic of stray and free-roaming livestock in urban and communal open spaces and in rural areas. Especially rural areas bordering Lesotho face the most significant risk, as there is no control over livestock movement between the two countries. Even though the municipality is working closely with SANRAL to establish task teams and a hotline to curb migration between Lesotho and South Africa, no concrete plans have yet been put in place.

Recent questions submitted by the NCOP DA caucus to the Ministers of SAPS and SANDF received only a limited response from the Acting Minister of SAPS, suggesting that the seriousness of the issue is not yet being fully confronted.

Questions through the NCOP DA caucus to the Ministers of SAPS and SANDF elicited only a flimsy response from the acting Minister of SAPS, showing an unwillingness to tackle the problem head-on.

The reply confirmed that the agricultural sector of Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, Dewetsdorp, Wepener and Van Stadensrus are terrorised daily with illegal grazing, illegal mining, stock-theft and vehicle-related crimes. But no mention is made of the crimes of burglaries and robberies, theft of essential infrastructure, sexually oriented crimes and murders committed against ordinary citizens.

To address the above issue, there are monthly meetings between PROVJOINTS, Migration and Border Security, Rural Safety Priority Committees, and SAPS, as well as quarterly cross-border operations.

It is time for less talk and more walking. We need resources and boots on the ground daily.
To date, these monthly talk shops and quarterly operations have done nothing to address the issues at hand, and the situation is deteriorating.

Residents of Mangaung have the opportunity in the 2026 Local Government Elections to elect the DA to deliver basic services, fight corruption and crime, and boost the economy that creates jobs.

Issued by Cllr. Maryke Davies - DA Councillor Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality