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Hundreds of jobs are on the line in the equine industry, and farmers produce will be affected due to the shortage of the African Horse Sickness (AHS) vaccine. This is despite an undertaking made by the National Minister of Agriculture, Thoko Didiza, earlier this year that the Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) facility has enough AHS vaccines.

Horses are not only used for racing but also as a means of transport and ploughing on farms. Horses that are not vaccinated between June and October are at risk of dying. This window of opportunity to vaccinate is closing.

The horse industry must be protected, as this industry provides work for thousands of people and is a critical part of our economy.

In March this year, the Democratic Alliance (DA) handed in a petition with over 11 000 signatures from horse owners and breeders who expressed concerns about the shortage of AHS vaccines and, in some instances, delayed delivery of vaccines.

During a recent engagement with horse breeders in Kyalami, it emerged that many horses are still not vaccinated and that there are not enough AHS vaccines available. Two doses of the vaccine are needed yearly.

Currently, nearly 2000 doses of the vaccine are needed in Gauteng alone. The deadline for the vaccinations has been extended to December this year by the National Horseracing Authority.

AHS is an infectious but non-contagious insect-borne viral disease that is endemic to Southern Africa. Horses need to be vaccinated between June and October each year to protect them against AHS during the late summer months, which is the peak AHS season.

Commercial, emerging, and subsistence farmers rely heavily on OBP to ensure that this country has sufficient vaccines to protect our agricultural sector. However, like all government entities, OBP is no different and has been allowed to go to ruin due to bad management practices.

The DA is calling for the privatisation of the OBP facility, as this is the only solution to ensure that the agriculture sector receives the vaccines it needs to continue operating optimally.

A DA government will ensure that the problems at OBP are immediately investigated and that all non-performing employees are brought before the disciplinary process as they are complicit in destroying both the agricultural sector and the viable horse racing industry.

Issued by Bronwynn Engelbrecht MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development