Gauteng foot-and-mouth scare: R63 million falls short, warns DA

The DA has criticised the Gauteng provincial government for allocating R63 million to combat the escalating Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, calling it “a tiny fraction of the province’s R179 billion budgets” and insufficient to protect farmers and the agricultural economy.

- MASABATA MKWANANZI

The party said farmers are already struggling with movement restrictions, collapsing markets, and rising feed costs, raising concerns that Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s administration lacks a clear strategy to protect jobs, food security, and the province's food supply.

Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, presented a three-year provincial budget of over R500bn on March 10, allocating R179.2bn for 2026/27. The budget prioritises strengthening frontline services, accelerating infrastructure development, and maintaining fiscal discipline, while the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development received R742m for the year.