Johannesburg – Amid a swine fever outbreak that has seen the industry incur over R10 million in losses, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for urgent action to save pig farming.
Gauteng MPL Bronwynn Engelbrecht, the DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, revealed that since November 2025, seven outbreaks of African Swine Fever have been reported in the City of Tshwane, affecting both commercial and smaller-scale pig farming operations.
Engelbrecht said, “69 171 pigs have been affected, with approximately 60 000 pigs culled”.
The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation has already incurred an estimated R10 million in costs, including culling, disposal, and labour.
“This figure does not yet include the direct financial losses suffered by affected farmers, which have still not been submitted to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,” Engelbrecht said.
“This devastating information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, in an oral reply to the Democratic Alliance’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.”
Engelbrecht said this was not just an animal-health crisis.
“It is a direct blow to farmers, farm workers, food security, and the already battered meat industry in Gauteng,” the MPL said.
“The province is still grappling with the devastating impact of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and now pig farmers in Tshwane are being forced to absorb yet another biological and financial disaster.”
According to MEC Ramokgopa, the department is providing advisory and supervisory functions and liaising with the national government, SAPPO, and private veterinarians.
“While cooperation is important, Gauteng farmers need more than advice after a disaster has already struck,” Engelbrecht said.
“They need decisive provincial leadership.
“The MEC’s response provides very little comfort that the department has a proactive, fully funded, and transparent outbreak-management plan in place.”
Engelbrecht said the DA was calling on MEC Ramokgopa to urgently table a clear ASF response plan that includes a detailed outbreak map, regular public updates, the number of farms affected by district and farming category, and a full assessment of losses, not only industry-body costs.
“It is unacceptable that farmers are left facing mass culling, rising costs and uncertainty while the department continues to offer vague assurances,” the MPL said.
“Every outbreak that is not swiftly contained threatens livelihoods, food supply chains and consumer confidence.
“The MEC must stop treating agricultural disease outbreaks as isolated incidents.”
Engelbrecht said African Swine Fever and Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreaks were warning signs of a wider failure in provincial animal-health preparedness.
“Gauteng’s farmers deserve a government that protects them, not one that only confirms the damage after it has already happened,” Engelbrecht said.
The DA said it will push for full transparency on the true economic impact of African Swine Fever, the support provided to affected farmers, and the steps being taken to stop further spread.
