Spokesperson from the Democratic Alliance, Noko Masipa, elaborates further on the issue. 

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Speaking to OFM News, Masipa says that this time around the regulations haven't formally stipulated the allowance or prohibition of livestock auctions. "The regulations just indicate that no auction is allowed," says Masipa. The previous level 4 lockdown that took place last year was met with innovation auctions that witnessed the creation and implementation of hybrid systems. This ensures that a selected number of people were allowed to attend auctions, adds Masipa.

"Farmers are under huge strain, drought is prevailing in many parts of the country. So, the financial strain on the farming side is quite huge and the second part is that 40% of our farmers are communal farmers. Those farms are owned by black entities and those communal farmers are highly dependent on the auctions and if those auctions are not taking place they're impacted financially quite heavily," explains Masipa.

He says that the northern parts of the country are experiencing many veld fires, ongoing drought and if people are not afforded the opportunity to sell their livestock now they will experience worse results closer to November and December - months when drought is anticipated. He assures that if auctions remain prohibited that the livelihoods of families will suffer as families are dependent on their livestock sales.

“What worries us, as the Democratic Alliance, is that there are people congregating, and yesterday [Sunday] we have seen the people gather in Nkandla, the lockdown regulations are not being adhered to, but the auction of the livestock that is very important for food security," says Masipa.

He says that they are asking that Minister Didiza, and Minister Dlamini-Zuma, agree to lift the ban imposed on livestock auctions. However, if the minister believes that Agriculture is not an essential service, as stipulated in the Disaster Management Act, then Agriculture should be removed as an essential service, asserts Masipa.

Masipa ends by requesting that the farmers remain patient as they are working and engaging to assist and ensure that this ban is lifted so that farmers can commence their trade. He also says that waiting for the 11th of July 2021 is a gamble as surety of the alert levels for lockdown being lifted is not guaranteed.

OFM News/Lee Simmons