Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has announced the establishment of an Industry-Government Task Team to strengthen South Africa’s response to animal diseases, with a particular focus on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

The task team, comprising representatives from government and the red meat industry, will co-ordinate efforts to improve prevention, management and control of animal diseases.

Steenhuisen said the task team will report directly to the value chain roundtables, which bring together all stakeholders in the livestock sector.

The minister made the announcement during a media briefing yesterday where he outlined critical interventions to curb persistent FMD outbreaks across several provinces.

“The task team will ensure better co-ordination, enforcement and accountability in tackling animal disease outbreaks,” Steenhuisen said.

The task team follows a Bosberaad (strategic meeting) convened in July by the Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Agricultural Research Council.

At the meeting, Steenhuisen noted that current responses are fragmented, with insufficient enforcement and coordination contributing to persistent outbreaks.

Key measures proposed included revising control zones, expanding capacity for sampling and diagnostics, increasing access to vaccines, and strengthening livestock identification and traceability systems.

Experts also highlighted the importance of enforcing biosecurity, warning that without it, containment measures will remain compromised.

Vaccine procurement and distribution

Giving an update on the country’s FMD status, Steenhuisen confirmed that 900 000 vaccine doses worth R72m had been procured from the Botswana Vaccine Institute for the current financial year.

“The first 500 000 doses arrived in June and were used to vaccinate cattle in KZN, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West and Free State. Just over a week ago, we received the remaining 400 000 doses, of which 50 000 are already distributed,” the minister said.

He said the remaining doses will go to provinces currently experiencing active outbreaks, including Free State, Mpumalanga, North West and Gauteng.

Over 250 unresolved FMD outbreaks

Currently, there are 274 unresolved outbreaks across KZN, Gauteng, Free State, North West and Mpumalanga.

Positive cases have been confirmed in all cattle farming systems, ranging from commercial beef herds, breeding farms, feedlots, dairy cattle, to communal herds.

In KZN, outbreaks continue to spread westward, with confirmed cases in municipalities including Dundee, Dannhauser, Newcastle, Alfred Duma, Okhahlamba, uMshwathi, eDumbe and eMadlangeni.

While the disease appears to have abated in the eastern part of the province’s Disease Management Area, 180 outbreaks remain active in KZN. The virus is believed to have spread from KZN into Mpumalanga through an auction in February, before reaching Gauteng, North West, western Mpumalanga and Free State by late May.

According to Steenhuisen, investigations point to both farm-to-farm transmission and ‘pinpoint’ introductions linked to livestock movements where isolation protocols were not observed. Current outbreak cases stand at 54 in Gauteng, 26 in North West, nine in Mpumalanga and five in Free State.

The minister urged farmers to comply with legislation and biosecurity protocols.

“Reports of farmers moving cattle showing clinical signs of the disease, or treating them privately without reporting, are deeply concerning and irresponsible. These actions not only contravene legal directives but risk entrenching FMD as endemic in South Africa,” he said.

“All livestock farmers are urged to co-operate fully with veterinary officials, report suspected cases immediately to state veterinary, and refrain from moving animals showing clinical signs,” Steenhuisen said. – SAnews.gov.za

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