In a powerful, unified front, the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) and the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (RUVASA) have today jointly condemned a legally unsound provision contained within the government’s newly drafted Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Pre-emptive Vaccination Scheme.

While both organisations welcome the urgent action to combat the FMD crisis, they unequivocally reject the draft’s requirement for SAVC registered veterinarians to seek additional registration and approval from a private company, Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), in order to participate in the national vaccination programme.

This provision, the veterinary leadership states, is not only legally unsound but will actively hinder the national response by creating unnecessary bureaucracy and severe legal risks for the very professionals needed to fight the outbreak.

The joint SAVA and RUVASA analysis identifies four critical flaws:

  • Unlawful Delegation of Power: It unlawfully delegates the state’s statutory power to regulate the veterinary profession to a non-statutory, private entity. The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) is the sole legal body with the authority to register and regulate veterinarians.
  • Undermining Professional Integrity: It creates an untenable situation where a highly qualified veterinarian, deemed fit to practise by the SAVC, could be prevented from fighting a national disease outbreak by a private entity with its own sectoral interests.
  • Creates Severe Legal Risk: The scheme is silent on who bears the liability for adverse outcomes. This ambiguity places veterinarians at unacceptable legal and financial risk, potentially compromising their professional indemnity insurance.
  • Contradicts Government’s Own Experts: This move directly contradicts the recorded advice of the Ministerial Task Team on Controlled Animal Diseases, which explicitly warned the government against favouring a single private organisation to ensure neutrality and inclusivity.

Dr. Ziyanda Qwalela, President of SAVA, speaking on behalf of the broader profession, stated: “We are facing a national crisis that calls for an urgent, lawful and science-based response. SAVA and its members have been working tirelessly in support of state actions to arrest the current epidemic. However, any measure that compromises the integrity of the profession or undermines the rule of law cannot be supported. Requiring state-regulated professionals to be vetted by a private entity encroaches on the statutory authority of the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) and risks establishing a troubling precedent.”

Dr. Dave Midgley, CEO of RUVASA, representing the frontline veterinarians who will be implementing the scheme, highlighted the severe practical and legal dangers.

“Our members are the boots on the ground in this fight. This provision does not help them; it ties their hands with red tape and exposes them to a legal minefield,” said Dr. Midgley. “The scheme creates a total vacuum of liability. If our members, acting in good faith, administer a vaccine under this flawed structure and an adverse event occurs, the state and RMIS will have to take responsibility for the level of uncertainty created by this ambiguity.  It seems once again, that vets will be left to face possible career ending consequences on their own.  No responsible professional can be expected to work under such reckless recommendations. This is not just a theoretical problem; it is a direct threat to our members’ livelihoods and their ability to protect our national herd.”

SAVA and RUVASA jointly call on the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. J Steenhuisen, to act immediately to correct this critical flaw before the scheme is promulgated.

Our united position is non-negotiable:

  • The requirement for veterinarians to register with RMIS must be expunged from the scheme entirely.
  • The sole and sufficient criterion for a veterinarian’s participation in the FMD scheme must be their good standing and registration with the statutory South African Veterinary Council.

“We are essential and willing partners in this fight,” concluded Dr. Qwalela. “We urge the Minister to listen to the unified voice of the veterinary profession. Amend this draft to ensure we can work together effectively on a foundation of legal certainty and professional respect to protect our animals and our economy.”