Speaking points prepared for the MEC for Economic, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Lebogang Maile, on the launch of the Gauteng veterinary clinical services and the opening of the Temba Animal Clinic facility
Programme Directors,
MMCs and Councillors from the City of Tshwane,
Members of Ward Committees,
Leaders of political parties,
Our farmers,
Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,
Officials from the City of Tshwane,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Purpose of the Day (Why we are here): We meet here today to launch the Gauteng Veterinary Clinical Services (mobile animal health clinics).
We will be rolling out these mobile animal health clinic services to townships across our province.
In particular, today we are showcasing our state of the art veterinary clinical equipment, which includes:
- A fully equipped Mobile Theatre Truck
- Five Mobile Animal Health Clinics
- Operating tables and
- Operating theatre instruments
Today we are also officially opening the renovated Temba Animal Health Clinic.
In addition to its regular functions, the Clinic will also serve as a referral facility for the mobile clinics. The renovated Temba Animal Clinic is a fully equipped facility. It is like any other facility you will get in the most affluent parts of our country.
It is a first government operated animal clinic in Gauteng. The significance of this project
This project is part of my department’s game changers; through which we will advance our programme of radical social and economic transformation. The project is not only about promoting animal health, it is also about improving the productivity, profitability and sustainability of small livestock farmers, particularly those based in townships.
The project will therefore contribute to the economic revitalisation of our townships through strengthening urban agriculture’s contribution to local economic development. This project is also about providing access to affordable and professional veterinary services to livestock and pet owners in the townships and informal settlements, who otherwise would not have access to this important service.
In addition to the animal health aspect of this project, we are contributing to ensuring the sustainability of the farmers in this area. As a result of this project, farmers in this and other areas will now have a state of the art facility that is there to ensure that their animals remain healthy.
This contributes directly to the sustainability of their farming businesses. It is indeed our intention to produce more and more sustainable commercial farmers, especially black commercial farmers.
This we are doing as part of our overall commitment to fundamentally transform all of sectors of our economy including agriculture. Within the agricultural sector, we are determined to fast-track access by black farmers into mainstream agriculture, including in the entire agricultural value-chain.
We want more and more of you to move from subsistence farming to being able to make a decent living from your farming enterprises.
We want you to become successful breeders of livestock and we want you to be able to compete successfully with other commercial farmers in South Africa and in the world. We want you to run profitable agricultural businesses! As government we are there to support you within the limited means at our disposal.
Vet services in our country are largely the preserve of those who are rich and those who can afford. In fact, they are a private good; not requiring the involvement of the State Veterinary Services.
Today we are changing all of that!
As a caring government, we are bringing this vital service closer to our people and we are making it affordable. Going forward, we will continue to expand access to such services to all South Africans, regardless of race and their social standing.
We note with appreciation that over the past 7 years the number of community veterinary clinics has increased from 5 to 25 across the Province. These clinics operate on a monthly, weekly or bi monthly basis.
We are also encouraged that State Veterinary Service offerings continue to be well received in our communities, including here in Temba.
Our Vets provide a vital service, necessary for advancing overall community development; ensuring particularly that our communities remain healthy and free from diseases.
The expansion of our Veterinary Services, including to townships and informal areas that were previously not accessing this service, is in line with the One Health System which as a department we are continuing to promote.
The One Health System recognises that the health of human beings is linked to the health of animals and the environment around them.
It takes into account the reality that: 70% of emerging infectious human diseases have their origins in animals. It is therefore important that we continue to make Veterinary and animal health services available to our people.
We also have a responsibility to raise awareness about animal health issues in our communities. We will use our Community Development Workers as well as our Community Health Workers to raise awareness on animal health issues.
Building awareness about the veterinary services we offer is one of our immediate priorities.
In the coming months through our National Primary Animal Health Care programme we will be deploying newly graduated vets, as part of their Compulsory Community Service program, in our townships.
Our newly graduated vets will not only help us provide professional veterinary services, but also will help us raise awareness on animal health issues.
Linked to our drive to promote healthy communities, and in order to address the problem of informal and un-hygienic slaughtering especially in our townships, my department will, in the coming months, roll out mobile abattoir services across Gauteng.
As we roll out these services we will create new business opportunities for township entrepreneurs. We will also limit the risks that come with eating illegally slaughtered meat. We will also formalise this area of work in order to ensure that it is monitored so that it can uphold the highest standards of hygiene and professionalism. I take this opportunity to thank all those who have made this project a success.
In particular, I thank the National Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, the City of Tshwane, the South African Veterinary Association, the Center for Public Service and Innovation as well as officials from my department.
We trust that this facility here in Temba will be treated as a community asset that it is.
To members of the community we say; this is your facility! Protect it and continue to use it for your benefit now and for many years to come.
We also trust that communities across Gauteng will embrace our mobile animal health clinics that we will be rolling out and treat them as community assets.
Thank you!
