South Africa is currently grappling with a persistent and escalating Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) crisis, with the latest outbreak confirmed in the Free State, adding to the growing number of affected provinces. The highly contagious viral disease, which affects cloven-hoofed animals, continues to pose a significant threat to the nation’s livestock industry, leading to export bans and severe economic repercussions.
Escalation of the Outbreak
FMD is endemic in African buffalo within and around the Kruger National Park (KNP) in South Africa. Historically, outbreaks in domestic livestock outside the FMD control zone were rare, with South Africa even achieving FMD-free status without vaccination by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in 1995. However, this status has been repeatedly lost due to various factors.
The current wave of outbreaks has seen the disease spread across multiple provinces. Issues like illegal animal movements, especially through auction houses, and inadequate biosecurity measures on farms have been identified as major contributors to the rapid escalation. Infected animals can shed the virus for up to 14 days before showing clinical signs, making early detection and containment extremely challenging. The failure to adhere to the legally required 28-day quarantine period for newly introduced animals has also been cited as a critical lapse.
A significant turning point in the recent escalation was the confirmed outbreak at Karan Beef’s Heidelberg facility in Gauteng in May 2025 – one of the world’s largest feedlots. This event highlighted the systemic vulnerabilities in the country’s animal health management, leading to immediate trade suspensions from key markets like China, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, inflicting substantial financial damage on the red meat industry.
 Latest in the Free State
On July 14, 2025, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) confirmed a new FMD outbreak on a commercial farm in the Moqhaka Local Municipality, near Kroonstad in the Free State. The affected property was promptly placed under quarantine on July 8, 2025. Immediate control measures, including surveillance and vaccination of livestock, are now underway. Trace-back activities are ongoing to determine the source of this new infection, and farms within a 10-km radius are under active surveillance to assess the potential for further spread.
National FMD Landscape
As of July 2025, South Africa has reported a staggering 270 FMD outbreaks across five provinces. Of these, 249 remain unresolved, while only 21 have been successfully contained and resolved.
- KwaZulu-Natal remains the most affected province, accounting for 191 reported outbreaks (172 active, 19 resolved). The Disease Management Area (DMA) in KZN remains in place due to persistent active virus circulation, with the Department recently correcting a gazette notice to clarify the areas included in the DMA.
- Since May 2025, Gauteng has reported 32 outbreaks, including the significant one at Karan Beef.
- North West currently has four open outbreaks.
- Mpumalanga has recorded three outbreaks.
- The Eastern Cape has experienced 40 outbreaks (38 open, two resolved), though encouragingly, no new cases have been reported in the province since September 2024. The DMA in parts of the Eastern Cape and Limpopo is expected to be lifted soon, a positive sign of containment in those regions.
Government Response and Challenges
In response to the escalating crisis, the DALRRD has intensified its control efforts, including the procurement of FMD vaccines. Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen confirmed in mid-June 2025 that the first consignment of over 900,000 vaccine doses had arrived, with a second order on the way. The government has provisionally budgeted R1.2 billion for vaccine requirements for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Despite these efforts, the situation remains precarious. The ongoing outbreaks underscore the critical need for improved biosecurity protocols, more effective animal traceability systems, and stricter enforcement of movement restrictions. Farmers are urged to remain vigilant, implement robust biosecurity measures, limit animal movement as much as possible, and immediately report any suspicious clinical signs to local State Veterinarians. The economic fallout, coupled with the persistent threat to food security, highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive and sustained national strategy to bring FMD under control.