The Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced that it will table a formal motion in the Limpopo Provincial Legislature calling for urgent oversight intervention into the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality’s failure to enforce the Limpopo Pound Act.

The motion, issued by Franco Marx, DA Constituency Head for Greater Tzaneen Municipality, calls on the MEC for Agriculture, Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana, and the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Basikopo Makamu, to intervene following the municipality’s continued failure to impound unlawfully roaming cattle.

According to the DA, the motion will demand immediate provincial oversight, a detailed report on livestock control measures implemented during the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) disaster in the Greater Tzaneen area, and accountability from both provincial departments for what the party describes as an “evident oversight failure”.

The party said the provision and operation of an animal pound is a constitutional municipal function, not a discretionary service, yet the municipality has allegedly failed to act despite repeated warnings. Since November 2025, the DA has raised concerns about free-roaming cattle in direct contravention of municipal by-laws and the Limpopo Pound Act.

Formal questions submitted by DA councillor Chrisma Bredenkamp to Municipal Manager Donald Mhangwana remain unanswered and have not been tabled before Council by Speaker Sanie Tiba.

The DA said the situation is especially serious given the national FMD disaster classification initiated by Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, which requires strict livestock movement controls to protect farmers, communities and the agricultural economy.

“Allowing cattle to roam freely during a biosecurity crisis undermines disease containment, endangers residents and motorists, and reflects a breakdown in municipal law enforcement,” the party said in the statement.

The DA has warned that it will continue to use every available oversight mechanism to ensure accountability and lawful governance, describing the situation in Tzaneen as “unacceptable” and a serious failure of governance.