MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Motsoaledi must reverse removal of veterinary doctors from critical skills list

Motsoaledi must reverse removal of veterinary doctors from critical skills list

Dear Editor

  • Shortage of 129 Veterinary doctors (Vets) in SA, which accounts for 45% of all funded positions, posing a risk to animal health, food safety, and security.
  • The shortage has persisted for the past 5 years, hindering efforts to maintain the health of livestock amidst disease outbreaks.
  • Minister Motsoaledi urged to reconsider removing Vets from critical skills list.

In a response to a DA parliamentary question, the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, revealed that South Africa currently has a shortage of 129 Veterinary doctors (Vets) – which equates to 45% of all the total funded posts. This is an alarming vacancy rate considering the critical role that Vets play in animal health, food safety and security.

The DA is therefore calling on the Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, to reconsider the decision that his Department took to remove Veterinary doctors from the critical skills list. As things stands, South Africa is unable to fill all vacancies within the sector for Vets despite having fully budgeted for them in every budget cycle, from 2019 to date.

In addition to the widely known problem of qualified Vets emigrating overseas, in her parliamentary reply, Minister Didiza indicated that the persistent vacancy problem in the sector is caused by a constant efflux of state veterinarians who are being recruited by the private sector and challenges to get suitably qualified applicants.

What is more alarming is that this Vet shortage has been a recurring problem over the past 5 years. In fact, as noted by the Minister in her reply, the country has recorded a Vet vacancy rate of 38% over the past 5 years. With South Africa constantly having animal disease outbreaks, such as foot and mouth disease, it is concerning that we are unable to find professionals with the requisite skills set to keep the national stock healthy.

The decision by Home Affairs to remove Veterinary doctors from the critical skills list was ill-thought and should be reversed as a matter of urgency. By placing Vets back on the critical skills list, South Africa will be able to attract qualified foreign professionals to temporarily fill the skills gap while we train our own local talent for this vital function.

Regards

Noko Masipa MP
DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Category: Tag:

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Fun South African fact

    Dear Editor Fun South African fact: towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are home to world-class wine farms set in stunning, scenic surroundings. Regards Aressa Smith In Response to/From: Luxury Properties Seized in New Lottery Crackdown

  • Condolences on the Passing of Lusanda Dumke

    Statement by Leander Kruger MPL – DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader: The Democratic Alliance in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mourns the passing of Springbok Women’s rugby player and Mdantsane trailblazer, Lusanda Dumke, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 28. South Africa has lost an exceptional athlete, a leader, and a source…

  • Rape Kits Delivered, But…

    Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice: The DA can confirm that 2 840 rape kits arrived in Cape Town on Monday, following sustained DA oversight and pressure after multiple police stations across the Western Cape were found to be without this critical forensic evidence tool. While this delivery…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Kazakhstan: You have two cows. They are both better cows than cows from Uzbekistan, who have bones in their brain.