The National Animal Health Forum NPC (NAHF) formalised its organisational structure in July 2018. The NAHF NPC was formed in 2006 by representatives of various livestock organisations to deal with matters of mutual concern with respect to animal diseases. The Forum was originally an informal structure, but with extended responsibilities and projects there was a need for a more formal structure. The NAHF NPC was formally incorporated as a non-profit company in 2018.
Since 2009, the Forum, among others, assisted DAFF during the OIE audit of South Africa’s national veterinary services. This resulted in a PVS report and lead to a draft of the Veterinary Strategy for South Africa.
The NAHF NPC quarterly liaises with DAFF on various animal health, veterinary public health and animal production matters. The NAHF NPC operates through various joint committees including 9 provincial animal health forums, continued professional development events in all nine provinces, LITS SA, the Buffalo Controlled Diseases Committee, the Brucellosis Steering Committee, Operation Phakisa, the Compensation and Risk Mitigation Committee, the Disease Reporting Committee, the FMD Steering Committee and a FMD Control Zone Market Access Committee.
The NAHF NPC strives to promote and improve the health status of the national livestock herds and flocks in order to promote sustainable livestock production and food safety through effective disease control and management.
Among others, the NAHF will in future be responsible for the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS SA) in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).
At its inaugural meeting as a NPC, on 25 July 2018 new directors were elected for the NAHF NPC. The managing director is Dr Pieter Vervoort, a well-known pig veterinarian, who was the chairman since 2009. Gerhard Schutte, CEO of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) as interim chairman. The other directors are Dr Charlotte Nkuna, president of the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA), Johann Kotzé, CEO of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO), Dr Ziayanda Majokweni, the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) and Nico van Aardt, director of Bethlehem Agri as an independent non-executive director.
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Issued by the National Animal Health Forum NPC.
Enquiries: Marzanne Polydorou, tel no 083 393 7228, or admin@nahf.co.za