Aucamp stressed that the precautionary suspension is not a finding of wrongdoing and will not disrupt South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination programme.
The board of OBP has instituted the precautionary suspension of Modumo following allegations of serious misconduct linked to the pricing of FMD vaccines.
Aucamp confirmed the development in a media release on Saturday, 5 September, after convening an urgent meeting with the OBP board the previous day. He said he had presented the board with information relating to the allegations.
The board subsequently gave Modumo notice of its intention to suspend him and, in accordance with OBP policy, five days to provide reasons why he should not be suspended. Should those representations be insufficient, the suspension will remain in place pending an independent investigation.
Precautionary measure
Aucamp emphasised that the step was precautionary and should not be interpreted as a finding of wrongdoing or misconduct. He said it was intended to protect good governance, accountability and due process while the allegations were investigated.
Aucamp said OBP, as a government entity, was obliged to act in the public interest and should not unduly profit from the FMD crisis. South Africa is experiencing what the ministry described as the largest FMD outbreak in the country’s history.
“There should therefore be no exorbitant markup on the sale of FMD vaccines, particularly at a time when farmers are already carrying the significant financial burden of this outbreak,” Aucamp said.
He added that the department, its public entities and their boards were expected to act ethically and to the highest standards, and said he would maintain strong oversight to ensure good governance.
Trollip welcomes action
Athol Trollip, chairperson of ActionSA in the Eastern Cape, expressed appreciation that action was being taken regarding the situation at OBP.
He said he had raised questions about the entity at almost every agriculture-related ad hoc parliamentary meeting for more than a year.
Vaccination programme to continue
Aucamp assured stakeholders that the suspension would not affect the country’s FMD vaccination campaign or progress in combating the outbreak. He urged farmers not to be deterred by the development and said it should be viewed as evidence of government’s commitment to accountability and the integrity of the FMD response.
Farmers were also encouraged to continue applying to become authorised persons, which enables them to vaccinate their own animals subject to the applicable requirements and protocols.
Aucamp asked the media and public to avoid speculation while the internal and independent processes ran their course. He said no further comment would be made at this early stage, but that the ministry and OBP would provide information when it was appropriate and lawful to do so.
