Premier Alan Winde and the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, have stated that the rollout of doses of vaccines to combat the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in the province will be scaled up over the next several weeks.
In a briefing held today, Friday, 20 February 2026, Premier Winde and Minister Meyer provided an update on the coordinated response to the national outbreak of FMD. While 30,000 doses have already been allocated to the Western Cape by the national Department of Agriculture, this will be scaled up over the coming weeks to more than 400,000 doses.
Five Key Strategic Developments
Alongside the vaccine surge, the Western Cape Government announced five critical developments aimed at curbing the spread:
Permit System: The draft gazette of a permitting system to better manage the movement of livestock in the Western Cape.
Private Vet Registration: Private veterinarians can now register to further bolster the province-wide vaccination drive.
Local Testing: The accreditation of the Western Cape Provincial Veterinary Laboratory to assist with testing for FMD.
Additional Personnel: The Western Cape Government Cabinet has resolved to bring in additional veterinary technicians.
Establishment of a “War Room”: The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) has established a “War Room” that brings numerous role players together to manage and sustain the overall containment of FMD.
The 21-Point Response Plan
- These measures form part of a 21-point response plan implemented by the Western Cape Government and its agricultural partners. The plan includes:
- Movement control, including 24/7 border monitoring.
- Monitoring, surveillance, and traceability, through on-the-ground rapid response from provincial veterinary services.
- Protocols such as communication, by-law enforcement, and contingency plans.
- Recovery involving cleaning operations and monitoring quarantine areas.
A Message to the Sector
Premier Winde emphasized the high stakes of the outbreak, stating: “We are fighting to protect the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, to secure jobs and the future of our agricultural exports. This is a collective responsibility, and we need every livestock owner to stand with us. Biosecurity is our first and only line of defence.”
He warned that moving animals without permits or neglecting basic hygiene protocols puts the entire province and country at risk, urging all residents to stop the illegal movement of cattle and report signs of illness immediately.
Call to Action: Official Hotline
The public, and specifically the agriculture sector, is encouraged to use the official WCDoA FMD hotline for reporting or assistance: