Excerpt: Liberty Fighters Network (LFN) has already dragged Minister John Steenhuisen, DA leader, to court over his secret Avian Flu vaccination decision — and now we are demanding answers on his Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine rollout too. For years the DA accused the ANC of secrecy and arrogance, yet Steenhuisen is doing exactly the same: spending over R70 million, bypassing the Department of Health, and rolling out mass vaccination without proof of safety, transparency, or public consultation. LFN will not let this hypocrisy go unchallenged.
Read the letter at the bottom of this article…
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Liberty Fighters Network (LFN) has now placed the spotlight directly on John Steenhuisen — the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Minister of Agriculture — for doing exactly what his party has long accused the ANC of: pushing through secretive, multi-million rand decisions without transparency, scientific proof, or public consultation.
Earlier this month, we lodged a review application in the High Court, Pretoria, to set aside Steenhuisen’s decision to authorise the mass vaccination of poultry against Avian Influenza. That case is currently pending before the Court.
But Steenhuisen’s Department also announced, at the same time, the mass vaccination of cattle against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). At first, we chose to prioritise the Avian Flu decision as the most urgent case. However, following strong calls from our supporters, we are now also challenging the FMD decision — which mirrors the same reckless pattern of governance.
Despite DA rhetoric against the ANC’s history of secrecy, Steenhuisen has pressed ahead with:
- Bypassing the Department of Health and the Directorate of Food Control, leaving meat safety and human health concerns ignored;
- Spending more than R70 million on emergency vaccine imports from Botswana after allowing Onderstepoort Biological Products’ vaccine bank to collapse;
- Commencing vaccination of nearly a million cattle without publishing any independent peer-reviewed scientific studies on vaccine safety or efficacy;
- Excluding the public, consumers, and independent experts from any real participation or consultation.
This is not leadership. It is the same arrogance, secrecy, and disregard for constitutional safeguards that South Africans have come to associate with the ANC. The only difference is that now, it is Steenhuisen himself leading the charge.
LFN has already taken the Avian Flu decision to court. Now, we are formally demanding the record of decision on FMD. If Steenhuisen fails to produce it and suspend the rollout, we will take him to court again.
Our position is clear: no party, no minister, no leader — whether ANC or DA — has the right to gamble with South Africa’s food security, public health, and consumer trust.
This is not just a battle for farmers or exporters. It is a battle for every South African family sitting down to a plate of food.
LFN will not stop until the hypocrisy is exposed, transparency is restored, and accountability is enforced.
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The Letter…
