Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Hendriëtte van Huyssteen
The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha to urgently address the critical feed crisis at the Armoedsvlakte Livestock Research Station in Naledi. The station, home to approximately 700 livestock animals, is facing severe nutritional shortages due to the North West Department for Agriculture and Rural Development’s failure to procure the necessary feed, lick, and salt supplements. This administrative failure threatens both the health of the livestock and the station’s vital agricultural research.
To ensure the health of livestock and the attainment of research objectives, Armoedsvlakte requires 2028 bags of feed, lick, and salt annually. These supplements are essential for maintaining the animals’ health and productivity, particularly during the winter months when natural grazing is insufficient. Shockingly, only 360 bags were procured for the entire 2024 year—a mere 18% of the required amount. This severe shortfall has dire consequences, including mineral deficiencies, malnutrition, arthrosis, and even death during calving.
This crisis is a direct result of provincial-level administrative failures. Budget votes under the guidance of the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha, have been misallocated, with funds meant for feed, lick, and salt procurement being placed on the wrong budget vote. This misalignment has effectively tied the hands of the Department’s supply chain office, preventing timely procurement.
The DA cannot and will not sit idly by while such negligence continues. The MEC must be held accountable for this mismanagement. We will call on him to explain why these budget vote misallocations have persisted since his appointment and what immediate corrective steps he plans to implement. Furthermore, we demand a comprehensive plan to ensure that procurement processes are streamlined and that feed, lick, and salt are delivered on time for each season.
To escalate the matter, the Democratic Alliance will formally report the Department’s administrative shortcomings to the National Minister for Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, for his monitoring and intervention where needed. It is crucial that national oversight helps rectify the issues at a provincial level and ensures that such failures are not repeated. It is unacceptable that poor governance continues to hinder agricultural progress and job creation in a province with the highest unemployment rate in South Africa at 53.6%.
The Democratic Alliance will continue to fight for a well-functioning, accountable government that prioritises the needs of its people. We believe in a future where the agricultural sector thrives, job opportunities are abundant, and every resident of the North West Province has the chance to live a life of dignity and prosperity.