Latest news with #OBP
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Agriculture minister calls for private sector partnership to combat foot-and-mouth disease crisis
South Africa's vibrant and diversified agricultural sector faces many challenges including climate change and trade wars, and it can't afford own goals stemming from a lack of vaccines. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has called on the private sector to help finance the procurement of crucial vaccines to contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among cattle and to address other biosecurity concerns that threaten South Africa's agricultural sector. Last week, the Department of Agriculture reported a new FMD outbreak in the Free State, bringing the total to 270 across five provinces in South Africa — a state of affairs that has seen export bans imposed by trading partners and put individual operators in jeopardy, delivering a hammer blow to the livestock sector. In his prepared opening remarks on Monday, 21 July 2025 at an FMD Indaba organised by the department, Steenhuisen noted that 'vaccine availability' was a 'crucial area where the system broke down during the recent outbreak'. 'The national FMD vaccine bank was depleted… As a result, we were compelled to import vaccines from Botswana to mount even a partial response.' Botswana, where cattle are venerated and the commercial livestock sector plays a significant role in the economy, was prepared. South Africa by unflattering contrast got caught with its pants down in the kraal. The stench from this steaming pile of manure leads straight to Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), the state-run national vaccine facility that was once state of the art but has, in recent years, become another example of state failure. 'We are calling on the livestock industry, especially the red meat, dairy and game sectors, to begin cofinancing vaccine procurement. This does not mean you will manage the vaccines or the cold chains. But it does mean that, like in other agro-industries, we establish structured partnerships that ensure we are not caught unprepared again,' Steenhuisen said. 'The time has come to build a nationally managed but jointly funded vaccine bank, not only for FMD, but for lumpy skin disease, brucellosis, Rift Valley Fever, and all other controlled diseases affecting trade and production.' This echoes other initiatives by the government to involve the private sector in partnerships to address the many challenges undermining South Africa's slow-growth economy. The minister also said that Onderstepoort Biological Products was 'stabilising' (whatever that means) — and that he had appointed two senior veterinarians, Dr Emily Mogajane and Dr Nomsa Mnisi, to develop 'a comprehensive national regionalisation framework'. 'Every credible trading nation in the world understands the principle of regionalisation, that an outbreak in one part of a country should not result in blanket trade restrictions for the entire nation. However, South Africa remains woefully behind in establishing, certifying and maintaining disease control zones that can be recognised by our international partners,' Steenhuisen said. 'Let me be clear: the failure to regionalise is not due to a lack of veterinary science. It is due to a lack of institutional coordination, legal clarity and capacity.' What this means for you There have been concerns that the outbreaks will push up meat prices, bucking the general trend of cooling food inflation. But the export bans are also seen as boosting domestic supplies, which should contain prices. Your braai might just be more affordable than it was two months ago. Having a reliable source of vaccines is in the industry's best interests and it could bring capital to the state's cash-strapped table. Vaccines are absolutely crucial for containing outbreaks of animal disease. For consumers, FMD is not a food safety concern. Other measures outlined in his remarks included a proposal to earmark a portion of statutory levels for research and development. South Africa's vibrant and diversified agricultural sector faces many challenges including climate change and trade wars, and it can't afford its own goals stemming from a lack of vaccines and the certification and isolation of disease control zones. DM
IOL News
16-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Corruption and crime: A recipe for food insecurity in South Africa
The livestock industry contributes about 50% of the agricultural gross domestic product and its hugely important export activities can easily be jeopardised by vaccination shortages. Image: File As much as I do not want to add another voice to the fiasco at the recent White House meeting between Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa it is a starting point for an article about how corruption, crime and food security end up in a concoction of another disaster for the citizens of the country. Ramaphosa stated, in defense of farm murder and genocide accusations that it is not a unique situation as South Africa has a serious problem with crime at all levels. All crime victims and citizens will agree with that statement, although it is the last thing foreign investors want to hear who at consider us as an investment destination. On August, 27, 2024 Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuizen launched a forensic audit into a R500 million Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) project. OBP, which was founded in 2000, is a state-owned animal vaccine manufacturing entity whose primary mandate is to manufacture animal vaccines. The Auditor General revealed that a substantial portion of a grant given to OBP in 2013 was unspent and unaccounted for. They further highlighted that OBP is not following basic auditing standards. It is a problem at other state entities. A similar case is that of the Road Accident Fund, which refuses to adhere to the instruction from the Auditor General. According to Steenhuisen he is concerned about the OBP project, which has been given R500 million to revamp the facility, as 'A large part of the R500 million went missing and is unaccounted for.' Former Minister of Agriculture Thoko Didiza stated that, 'A forensic report on the utilisation of some of the funds was done, and it enabled the OBP to take some of the concerns of sub-contracting to the Special Investigative Unit.' But this is nothing new. In 2022 vaccine shortages were threatening herd immunity in the livestock due to the outbreak of foot and Mouth disease (FMD). During this period OBP dismissed Dr Baptiste Dungu as its CEO. Dungu, who was appointed in 2019, was accused of corruption and had been on a precautionary suspension up until his dismissal. Investigation into allegations revealed evidence of 'various alleged transgressions including, (but not limited to) allowing or instigating irregular procurement procedures, dishonesty and mismanagement in contravention of OBP's policies and the laws of the Republic of South Africa.' According to Food for Mnzanzi, 'Dungu was dogged by scandal from the start of his tenure. A Congolese national, he was found not to have passed the minimum security standards required for the role. He was also previously employed by the company, up until 2008, but was said to have left under suspicion of using company trade secrets for his own business.' Current FMD crisis In the past four weeks news broke of the outbreak of FMD in beef livestock farms. FMD is a highly contagious illness affecting animals. Livestock farmers warned they may soon go out of business if the government does not support those affected by the preventative measures for FMD. Onderstepoort, however, does not have vaccines available. The disease is not new in South Africa. During the FMD outbreak in 2021, measures taken included the prohibition of slaughtering and transporting livestock. South Africa has a cattle herd of approximately 12.3 million according to Statista and the country that comes to our rescue for vaccines is Botswana with a cattle herd of only 2.3 million. The total cattle population in Ethiopia is a staggering 70 million. South Africa, however, is the largest producers of red meat at 1 038.7 metric tonnes of beef, which is more than double that of Ethiopia. Although the most affected provinces were KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Eastern Cape, the latest news was that the disease was also detected at Karan Beef, South Africa's largest feedlot owner. At their Heidelberg feedlot Karan Beef has as many as 150 000 head of cattle. Although the disease seems to have affected only 2% of the animals the disease is so highly contagious that it may well spread quickly. The livestock industry contributes about 50% of the agricultural gross domestic product and its hugely important export activities can easily be jeopardised by vaccination shortages. According to Zipho Linda, OBP's communications specialist, vaccine supply challenges have been with the entity for the past ten years, 'due to equipment breakdown. Equipment is aged and is currently being replaced.' Before Minister Steenhuizen arrived as the new Minister the problems have been highlighted and brought to the attention of thegovernment. Representatives of the National Animal Health Forum (NAHF) highlighted the dangers of inconsistent vaccine availability in a meeting with former minister Didiza. This included the threat to national herd immunity, food security, income security and the threat of zoonosis, which is the passing of animal diseases on to humans. Daybreak The above crises come in addition to the current Daybreak chicken farm scandal. The Public Invesment Corporation (PIC)has once again not ensured that a proper due diligence was conducted in their acquisition of 100% the broiler farm for purposes of empowering Black farmers. They allowed untrained and unskilled workers to underfeed the 490 000 birds and they allowed inhumane culling practices to take place. As many as 350 000 birds had to be culled. It needs the intervention of the SPCA to bring a court order to halt the transgressions. No one was arrested for the disaster that shames the whole country and we are yet to see accountability from the PIC that squander pensioners money in this manner. Soon these disasters will not be other people's money or other people's cattle it will be the entire nation that will pay the price of food insecurity.
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Steenhuisen addresses vaccine challenges and the urgent rollout of avian influenza vaccines
South Africa has launched its first national avian influenza vaccination campaign. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives South Africa has launched its first national avian influenza vaccination campaign as part of a sweeping overhaul of its biosecurity system, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced this week. Speaking at the Biosecurity Summit at the University of Pretoria, Steenhuisen said the vaccination programme is already underway and supported by veterinary experts from the University of Pretoria and the Agricultural Research Council. 'Vaccines have been secured, cold chain logistics are operational, and we have contracted 50 animal health technicians to support the effort on the ground,' he said. The campaign comes after the devastating 2023 avian influenza outbreak, which triggered widespread food price shocks, supply shortages, and economic losses. Steenhuisen said the response marks a decisive shift from reactive to proactive biosecurity. 'Our approach is no longer about scrambling after a crisis has hit, but it is about building lasting systems that prevent those crises in the first place,' he said. Steenhuisen acknowledged previous failings, including 'delays in vaccine availability; bureaucratic blockages; and insufficient surge capacity when outbreaks occur,' but said these were being addressed through structural reforms and new leadership under Deputy Director-General Dipepeneneng Serage. He was blunt about one of the system's greatest weaknesses: vaccine production. He said performance at Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), the country's main vaccine supplier, has been inadequate. 'It is imperative that Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) improves,' he said. 'There have been backlogs, infrastructure constraints, and missed delivery windows that must not be repeated.' He added that his office has instituted quarterly performance reviews and introduced independent oversight to ensure accountability for OBP. Another major challenge is the shortage of veterinarians. 'Nationally, we require 400 veterinarians. We currently have around 70 in the public system,' he said. To address this, the department is expanding training posts, creating rural internships, and mapping career pathways through the Biosecurity Hub. Steenhuisen also proposed the creation of a National Biosecurity Compact: 'A shared commitment between government, industry, academia, and civil society' that would set baseline vaccine stock levels, clarify outbreak responsibilities, and embed data-sharing protocols. 'This is not about creating more paperwork. It is about getting everyone on the same page before the next crisis hits,' he said.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB's Ronald Acuna Jr. Message Turns Heads on Wednesday
MLB's Ronald Acuna Jr. Message Turns Heads on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Ronald Acuna Jr. delivered a home run in the top of the fifth inning on Monday in the Atlanta Braves' 7-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, marking his sixth in just 18 games played this season. Advertisement Through mid-June, Acuna has wasted little time reestablishing himself atop MLB leaderboards. In 68 at-bats, he has scored 11 RBIs, six HRs, 24 hits and 13 runs, holding a .353 AVG, .436 OBP and .647 SLG, all of which are career-highs. On Wednesday, the MLB took to Instagram to celebrate his hot streak with a clip of his latest home run against the Brewers alongside the caption, "@RonaldAcunajr13 is automatic 🔥." Fans online were quick to show their support. "Acuña seriously has one of the best swings in baseball," said one user. "Best player in baseball. Idc what anyone says," another fan replied. Advertisement "I wish we had 9 acuñas," commented another user. "Bro was on tiktok live last night, next day he hittin tanks 😭😭," one other fan replied. "This would've been the mvp of the league btw," said one other commenter. "Baseball missed you kid," responded another fan. Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13)© Brett Davis-Imagn Images Since debuting on April 25, 2018, Acuna has rapidly built a resume that ranks among the sport's best. In 2018, he secured the National League Rookie of the Year Award after becoming the youngest player ever to homer in five straight games. From there, he earned four All-Star selections (2019, 2021-2023), three Silver Slugger awards (2019, 2020, 2023) and was awarded the NL MVP in 2023 after slashing .337/.416/.596 with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases, leading MLB in runs, hits, stolen bases and total bases. Advertisement Beyond these milestones, Acuna has twice led the league in stolen bases (2019, 2023) and earned multiple All-MLB first team honors in 2023. Related: MLB Makes Strong Aaron Judge Statement on Sunday Related: Twins Send Clear Message to Jhoan Duran After MLB News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Observer
05-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
Business Platform project to boost Oman's investment appeal
MUSCAT, JUNE 5 Prominent Omani firms are among a total of 12 local and international consortiums that have been qualified by the Ministry of Finance to compete for the government's prestigious contract to develop and operate the Oman Business Platform (OBP) project – a vital government e-services platform - via the Public Private Partnership (PPP) route. In the fray at this stage of the competitive bidding process are consortiums led by: Al Madina, Bahwan CyberTek, Bahwan Engineering, Business Gateways, NELTA, Nortal, PwC, Quilix, Solutions by STC (Saudi Telecom Company), SSL Software Systems, Tata Consultancy Services and World CloudTurksat. They were shortlisted from among a total of 30 companies that sought to prequalify for this first-ever initiative to build and operate a digital hub designed to deliver seamless, efficient, and integrated government services. The Ministry of Finance, in its exclusive capacity as the orchestrator of PPP projects, is overseeing the procurement process on behalf of the project owner, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP). The project is one of several flagship initiatives unveiled under the latter's Digital Transformation Programme 2021-25. Launched originally as a One-Stop-Shop in 2003, the Oman Business Platform has undergone a succession of upgrades and enhancements – technological and qualitative – to serve as the government's principal digital vehicle for engagement with investors and the wider business community. 'The Oman Business Platform plays a crucial role as the central hub for business registration data in Oman, serving over 50 million records and supporting more than 36 government and private entities. This platform is vital for ensuring smooth e-government services across the country. On an average day, it handles 250,000 web service requests, processes 10,639 tasks and supports more than 50 online services and licensing-related services,' the Ministry of Finance explained in a backgrounder on the initiative. The successful vendor will be granted a 7-year contract (extendable by 1+1 year renewal periods) to operate the platform against a payment structure that includes 'both a fixed component and one or more variable components possibly related to platform revenue growth and/or transaction volume growth'. The Platform Operator will be required to enhance the platform's capability to deliver seamless, efficient, and integrated government services. 'As a digital hub for the community, the platform's enhancements will prioritise user engagement and streamlined service delivery. The vision includes refining user interfaces and improving backend systems to ensure a responsive and accessible digital environment for all users, ranging from local Omani businesses to international investors and the general public,' the Ministry of Finance added. In the next stage of the procurement process, the qualified contestants will be invited to submit proposals outlining their respective strategies for building and operating the platform. An award is anticipated before the end of this year.
