JOHANNESBURG – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for urgent action to save pig farming as an outbreak of swine fever costs the industry more than R10 million.
Gauteng MPL Bronwyn Engelbrecht, Gauteng Shadow MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, revealed that seven African swine fever outbreaks have been reported in the city of Tshwane since November 2025, impacting both commercial and small-scale pig farming operations.
“69,171 pigs were affected and approximately 60,000 pigs were culled,” Engelbrecht said.
The South African Pork Producers Association has already incurred an estimated R10 million in costs, including culling, disposal and labor costs.
“This figure does not yet include the direct economic losses suffered by affected farmers and has not yet been submitted to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,” Engelbrecht said.
“This devastating information was revealed by Mr Buyiswa Ramogopa of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development during an oral response to a Democratic Alliance question posed in the Gauteng provincial parliament.”
Engelbrecht said this is more than just an animal health crisis.
“This is a direct blow to Gauteng's farmers, farm workers, food security and the already hard-hit meat industry,” MPL said.
“Tshwane pig farmers are now facing further biological and financial disaster as the province continues to grapple with the devastating effects of foot and mouth disease.”
According to MEC Ramokgopa, the ministry provides advisory and supervisory functions and liaises with central government, SAPPO and private veterinarians.
“Cooperation is important, but Gauteng's farmers need more than advice as disaster has already struck,” Engelbrecht said.
“They need decisive leadership from the state.
“The MEC's response provides little reassurance that the department has an active, well-funded and transparent outbreak management plan in place.”
Engelbrecht said the DA is calling on MEC Ramogopa to urgently develop a clear ASF response plan that includes detailed outbreak maps, regular public information, the number of affected farms by district and agricultural category, and a complete assessment of losses as well as costs for industry groups.
“It is unacceptable that farmers remain faced with mass culling, rising costs and uncertainty while authorities continue to provide vague guarantees,” MPL said.
“Any outbreak that is not quickly contained threatens livelihoods, food supply chains and consumer confidence.
“MEC should stop treating agricultural disease outbreaks as isolated incidents.”
Engelbrecht said the outbreaks of African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease were warning signs of widespread failure in the state's animal health preparedness.
“Farmers in Gauteng deserve a government that protects them, not one that just checks on damage after it happens,” Engelbrecht said.
The DA said it called for full transparency on the true economic impact of African swine fever, the support provided to affected farmers and the measures taken to stop further spread.
