By Lee Yandra Paulsen
Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp says an out-of-court settlement has brought an end to the legal dispute over the procurement and distribution of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines.
Agricultural organisations Sakeliga, Saai, and Free State Agriculture argued that farmers should be allowed to procure vaccines directly instead of waiting for lengthy government processes. Aucamp said the agreement will open the market to fair competition and improve access to vaccines.
He welcomed the settlement, saying it will strengthen cooperation between the government and the agricultural sector.
Aucamp said, “Agriculture is better off after the settlement than we were before.” He added that the agreement highlights the importance of collaboration, saying, “There is absolutely no way in which the government on its own would have been able to solve the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.” He said working together will help improve the country’s response to future animal disease outbreaks.
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