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.
29 October 2014
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:
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A fully equipped Mobile Theatre Truck
Five Mobile Animal Health Clinics
Operating tables and
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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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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