Staff Reporter
SOUTH Africa has announced a stronger and more urgent response to the ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, a development closely watched in Namibia as the crisis continues to affect livestock movement, biosecurity and regional trade. The outbreak—concentrated in KwaZulu-Natal—remains one of the most severe in decades, with authorities warning that containment efforts are not yet succeeding.
South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, said the country is facing “one of the most persistent and damaging waves” of FMD in recent history, acknowledging the heavy toll on farming communities. The hardest-hit areas include Kokstad, Dundee, Underberg and Dannhauser, where new cases continue to emerge among mostly dairy operations.
“As minister, I want our farmers to know that I see the impact this outbreak is having on their families, their businesses and their communities,” he said, adding that government shares their determination to end the crisis.
As of November 2025, KwaZulu-Natal accounts for 180 of the 274 unresolved outbreaks nationwide. Despite the vaccination of more than 931 000 animals in the past three months, uncontrolled livestock movement continues to undermine containment efforts.
Steenhuisen admitted that the situation remains critical. “We must be honest with the public and with our farming sector. This is a battle we are currently not winning. For this reason, we are now significantly strengthening our approach to regain control of the situation,” he said.
Following fresh outbreaks around Kokstad, vaccination has been intensified in Estcourt and neighbouring districts. Limited relief measures have been introduced for compliant dairy farmers, including permission for locally consumed milk to be sold after single pasteurisation.
The minister also acknowledged the role of industry partners such as the Red Meat Industry Services (RIMS) and the Milk Producers Organisation (MPO), which purchased 50 000 vaccine doses for dairy farmers in KwaZulu-Natal.
To date, vaccine rollout in the province includes:
- Bergville: 3 000 doses
- Estcourt: 2 500 doses
- Winterton: 1 500 doses (with another 3 000 to follow)
- Dundee: 4 000 doses
- Spioenkop Dam area: 5 000 doses
By February 2026, South Africa expects to receive two million additional vaccine doses, with plans to produce more domestically under a new mid-scale manufacturing facility designed to reduce reliance on imported vaccines. Combined government and industry efforts aim to secure a further 1.5 million doses.
The Department of Agriculture has also resolved to implement a national vaccination strategy covering the entire herd, beginning with the provinces most affected by FMD: KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and North West. This approach is meant to position South Africa to apply for “freedom with vaccination” status from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
Steenhuisen added that success depends not only on vaccines but also on strict enforcement of animal-movement regulations. Uncontrolled movement, he said, remains the biggest threat to containment.
“We recognise the emotional, financial and operational strain this disease has placed on the sector,” he said. “We remain committed to turning this outbreak around and rebuilding resilience in the livestock industry.”
The minister said South Africa is strengthening partnerships with local agencies, including the Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), as well as international partners such as China and Argentina, which have offered technical support for vaccine provision.
The heightened response forms part of South Africa’s broader agricultural recovery strategy. Namibia, which imports livestock and dairy products from South Africa and maintains strict animal-health protocols of its own, continues to monitor developments as part of regional biosecurity efforts.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Poultry and Livestock Africa.
