Page 15 - Executive Board Meeting 14 July 2021

Carte Blanche
SAPPO was approached by Carte Blanche for an interview on ASF.
SAPPO decided to set a narrative, with Dr Peter Evans, Johann Kotzé, Marieta Human, Derick van der Walt and Christian Zimelka putting a strategy together to talk about – the Outcome of ASF.
Johann Kotzé and Dr Peter Evans spoke on how to maintain the disease, while the farmer, Mr Fourie, spoke of what on farm issues. Reporters wanted to record footage on the farm and units, but the farmer did not allow them to do so and ensured that no signage was visible. SAPPO recorded footage with their mobile phones and edited it before it was handed over to the Carte Blanche team.
The narrative is that it could be prevented but was not allowed by government due to a lack of decision making. SAPPO has to trust that it is how the interview will be broadcast. The challenge was that the reporter could get hold of bad footage without SAPPO's knowledge.
ASF
The meeting noted that the Umfoleni outbreak site in the Western Cape had still not been cleaned up and that another outbreak had occurred in Saldana and George in the southern Cape where 35 pigs died.
A proposed strategy on the way forward with ASF must be decided, possibly with the assistance of the RMIF. There was no specific way of doing it and the industry must learn from Ireland and Spain. South Africa cannot rely on government but need to act as a collective industry.
SAPPO had consulted with lawyers on SAPPO’s involvement with claims for compensation. The lawyers’ advice was that each individual farmer should claim compensation from government in their own way. SAPPO might assist with the logistics in getting the claim in, but without any direct involvement.
SAPPO can only be involved for the industry’s sake. The statutory levy might be used for legal costs if it is for the industry’s interest.
SAPPO subscribes to the Act which states that the government must cull and compensate as ASF is a notifiable disease.
The rescue plan that SAPPO had submitted to government to prevent the disease from spreading was not accepted.
An appointment was made with the Minister. Johan van der Walt, Johann Kotzé, Dr Peter Evans and Charl Braak will attend the meeting to address compensation and the loss of income, which occurred due to incompetence. The spread of the disease is increasing.
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