Dr Botlhe Modisane, technical spokesperson on the disease at the department, says if they were not in control more properties would have been infected. He says the affected properties identified have had a direct link with the source of the outbreak. This includes one or two farms that were infected accidentally. This boils down to the fact that the disease has not spread to a very large area and to other provinces. OFM News’ Christal-Lize Muller spoke to Modisane…

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He says progress is being made with only about 35 properties that still have to be followed up on. “Once we conclude these properties and we know the status quo, I am sure with better practices we would be able to lift the ban on auctions.”

The department continues with its back and forward investigations on these properties.

He says South Africa’s foot-and-mouth free status which has been temporarily suspended by the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) is still in place. That is why all stakeholders need to work hard to regain the country’s free status.

There are, however, positive points in this regard related to international trade. According to Modisane, the department is confident that the foot-and-mouth outbreak is still only in Limpopo, which allows the country’s other eight provinces to be able to trade internationally. South Africa’s major trading partners are still accepting products like beef from the eight other provinces.

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