Foot-and-mouth outbreak plunges farmers into financial distress

The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak must be declared a national disaster to save South Africa’s livestock industry – with regulations needing urgent amendment to ease pressure on the state and affected farmers.

This is according to the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), which has accused government of failing in its responsibilities to the private sector and livestock producers.

Saai CEO, Francois Rossouw, said since Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s announcement in November 2025 that the country’s cattle population – approximately 14 million – would be vaccinated, cases have continued to escalate, with pigs and calves dying as a result.

“The dairy, red meat and stud livestock industries have been plunged into an existential crisis, and the Department of Agriculture, which is legally mandated to control and manage the disease, has largely lost the trust of farmers,” Rossouw said.

The ongoing crisis has placed thousands of farmers under severe financial strain, as livestock cannot be sold or moved, while some dairy operations are being forced out of business.

“In the absence of understanding, political will or decisive action on the part of the State, agricultural structures are now exploring the development of a financing mechanism to help farmers bridge their temporary cash-flow crises,” Rossouw added.

In KZN, the prolonged FMD outbreak has left small-scale farmers particularly vulnerable, threatening livelihoods and undermining the province’s once-thriving livestock sector.

Five districts including King Cetshwayo, uMkhanyakude, Zululand, uMzinyathi and Amajuba have been identified as hotspots, with strict cattle movement restrictions in place.

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