The Western Cape’s battle against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) reached a critical turning point this week. Following a pivotal Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, where provincial leaders moved to intensify roadblocks and quarantine protocols, the situation escalated rapidly with confirmed cases in and new suspected outbreaks in the Garden Route. This proactive shift was backed by a landmark R100 million emergency allocation to move the province from a defensive posture to an all-out offensive against the virus.
The 4 February Turning Point
During the Wednesday briefing, the Western Cape Cabinet endorsed an intensified “whole-of-society” approach. While the original November 2025 Gouda case was resolved through controlled slaughter, new data prompted the immediate quarantine of properties in Velddrif and Bredasdorp linked to previous livestock movements. Cabinet also formally requested the national department to consider border closures to protect the province’s FMD-free status.
The Mbekweni (Wellington) Confirmation
The urgency of the Cabinet’s plan was validated just 48 hours later. On Wednesday afternoon, a private veterinarian in Wellington reported suspicious clinical signs in a herd in Mbekweni. Samples were airlifted to Pretoria, and by the morning of Friday, 6 February, results officially confirmed the virus. Veterinary teams commenced vaccinations of affected and surrounding cattle that same afternoon.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Ivan Meyer, highlighted the economic stakes following the confirmation:
“This is critical because we are dealing with 11% of the province’s GDP. That is the size of the agricultural sector in the Western Cape. For us, it is significant that we act with speed and urgency… roadblocks will continue because it is vital for us to restrict the movement of animals. However, we must also restrict farm visits. This is very important because biosecurity begins at the farm gate.”
Provincial Government’s R100 Million Intervention
In a decisive media briefing on Sunday, 8 February, Premier Alan Winde and Minister Meyer announced a R100 million allocation to procure vaccines and fund a 21-point emergency plan. This strategy includes 24/7 border controls and rapid response teams to monitor new suspected cases currently under investigation in George, Mossel Bay, Mfuleni, Makhaza, and Kalkfontein.
Garden Route: A Growing Concern
The crisis is no longer localized to the Winelands. On the afternoon of 8 February, the Milk Producers Organisation (MPO) flagged a suspected case in a dairy herd in the Mossel Bay area. This has triggered an immediate call for a voluntary lockdown of all dairy farms in the region. Mossel Bay Mayor Dirk Kotze and local safety officials are set to deliberate on municipal response strategies this coming Tuesday.
Movement Control and Biosecurity Protocols
Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku has warned that livestock movement is the highest-risk pathway. Provincial Traffic Officers have intensified inspections at all provincial entry points and weighbridges.
Essential Actions for Farmers:
- Mandatory Reporting: Any cloven-hoofed animal showing blisters or sores must be reported to a state veterinarian immediately.
- Movement Control: All movements must be logged via the Animal Movement App.
- Uncompromising Biosecurity: Restrict farm access, use footbaths, and disinfect all vehicles and equipment.
As the national government moves toward gazetting a formal State of Disaster to unlock further enforcement powers, the Western Cape remains at the frontline of protecting South Africa’s R80 billion livestock industry. Success now depends on the unwavering cooperation of every farmer and transporter to uphold biosecurity protocols and halt the spread of this devastating virus.