As of late December 2025, South Africa’s livestock sector stands at a historic crossroads. After a year of devastating spread that saw Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) infiltrate seven provinces, the government has abandoned the old “containment only” strategy in favour of a massive, structural overhaul of animal health policy. This shift marks a transition from reactive crisis management to a proactive, science-driven “FMD-Free with Vaccination” roadmap.
The Current State of the Outbreak
The scale of the current crisis remains severe, with KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) acting as the epicentre with 207 confirmed outbreaks. While the Western Cape has contained its single outbreak, the virus remains active in seven provinces.
In the 3rd week of December, Minister Steenhuisen highlighted a worrying development: Limpopo, which had previously managed to control the disease, recorded four new cases in the Waterberg, Vhembe, and Alldays areas. Additionally, a new SAT1 strain identified in a Gauteng feedlot confirms that the virus continues to be introduced via illegal livestock movements across provincial borders.
The “70/90/100” Strategy
The centerpiece of the plan is a set of hard metrics known as the “70/90/100” target for the next 24 months:
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Reduce FMD incidents by 70% in high-risk areas.
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Achieve 90% vaccination coverage in communal and commercial herds.
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Enforce 100% vaccination in the dairy sector.
“South Africa now has a realistic and technically sound roadmap to realise its goal of FMD-free status with vaccination, a crucial step for restoring confidence in export markets and stabilising this R80 billion livestock industry.” — Minister John Steenhuisen
Critical Deadlines: January & February 2026
The Minister outlined a strict timeline for the start of the new year, marking these dates as pivotal for the “war” against FMD:
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Mid-January: The Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) begins delivering 1 million doses per month.
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Second Week of January: The official launch of the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS). This digital platform will use geo-location to track the movement of every vaccinated animal.
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Third Week of January: A national briefing for SAPS and law enforcement to begin a “zero tolerance” crackdown on illegal animal transport.
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End of January: The announcement of a Section 10 scheme, which will set the legal parameters and mandatory requirements for dairy and feedlot vaccination programs.
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February 2026: Commencement of mass vaccination in KZN and Gauteng.
Enforcement and Financial Support
To ensure these deadlines are met, the Department is hiring additional veterinary technologists and training unemployed Animal Health graduates to join the February rollout. Financially, the Minister has committed 5% of all CASP (Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme) funding permanently to biosecurity, while redirecting all current unspent funds to immediate FMD control.
The Road Ahead
The recovery of the R80 billion industry will be a “monumental task” according to Steenhuisen. However, with the transition to digital tracking in January and mass vaccination in February, the government believes it can finally turn the tide. As the Minister concluded, the goal is to secure food safety and restore international export confidence through a unified, law-enforced response.