The South African Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has announced a major breakthrough in the campaign to contain Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), highlighting intensified efforts by the Department of Agriculture. Two provinces—Eastern Cape and Limpopo—are set to see the lifting of Disease Management Area (DMA) restrictions, and an urgent order of R72 million worth of vaccines has been placed.
Vaccine Rollout Gains Momentum
The Department has transferred the procurement of vaccines to Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), with deliveries expected by mid-June 2025. This is part of a broader plan to scale up the vaccination programme, which is budgeted at R1.2 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year, with doses priced at R100 each. Recent rounds of vaccination resulted in over 144,000 animals vaccinated nationwide, including 32,024 in the Vhembe Municipality alone.
DMA Restrictions Lifted in Key Provinces
Movement restrictions are now set to be lifted in the Eastern Cape DMA, particularly in the Kouga and Kou-Kamma municipalities, and in Limpopo, where restrictions have been in place since 2022. Surveillance data and absence of recent cases support this decision.
Ongoing Challenges in Other Provinces
In KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the virus remains active within the DMA. While some outbreaks outside the zone were contained without further spread, the province remains under strict surveillance. Similarly, Mpumalanga has seen stabilisation after a single farm outbreak in the Gert Sibande District in April 2025, with no signs of further transmission.
In Gauteng, however, new cases have emerged in the West Rand. A feedlot and adjacent farm tested positive, and investigations are underway to trace potential linked locations.
China Imposes Trade Suspension on Beef
The People’s Republic of China has suspended imports of cloven-hoofed animals and related products from South Africa, citing concerns over the outbreaks in KZN, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng. Fortunately, wool exports that comply with the pre-agreed protocol remain unaffected.
Heightened Biosecurity and Legal Responsibilities
Minister Steenhuisen stressed that biosecurity is a national responsibility. Farmers must adhere to the legal requirement of separating new livestock from resident herds for 28 days—even with a health certificate. This has been mandatory since October 2022.
The Department is also placing renewed emphasis on traceability. Farmers are encouraged to maintain detailed records of animal purchases, sales, and movements. This measure—alongside stricter biosecurity—enables rapid identification and containment of outbreaks and is a key priority outlined in the Department’s directive.
The Animal Diseases Act (Act No. 35 of 1984) mandates immediate reporting of suspicious symptoms and prohibits movement of potentially infected animals. Key measures include isolation, restricting farm access, and preventing nose-to-nose contact between animals.
Livestock owners and auctioneers are urged to remain vigilant, avoid sourcing animals from restricted areas, and report any FMD symptoms immediately to state veterinarians.