Vet crisis poses food security risk

SOUTH Africa faces yet another threat to its food security – a critical shortage of vets to keep the nation’s livestock healthy.

South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) president Dr Nandipha Ndudane said the crisis could have “a devastating effect” on livestock health and food safety and has asked the government to add the profession to the country’s critical skills list.

Just one institution – the University of Pretoria – offers the qualification and “alarming recent statistics show high numbers of vets leaving the country”, said Ndudane.