South African cattle farmers have indeed faced immense challenges from the ongoing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, which has persisted into late 2025 and caused billions in losses through culls, export bans, movement restrictions, and disrupted supply chains—particularly hitting dairy producers hardest in KwaZulu-Natal, where 180 of the 274 unresolved cases are concentrated.
Frustration peaked earlier this year and still going on with farmers accusing the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) of slow responses, inadequate communication, and overly broad quarantines that felt punitive rather than protective—leading some red meat producers to threaten court action in October.
That said, under the new leadership of Minister John Steenhuisen (appointed in mid-2025), the department has shifted gears toward more proactive support. In a major policy U-turn announced on November 26 at the African Farmers' Association of South Africa (AFASA) conference, the government committed to vaccinating the entire national herd—a dramatic expansion from previous targeted efforts—to curb the "raging" spread and protect livelihoods.
This includes accelerating vaccine rollouts in hotspots like Kokstad and Estcourt, with R42 million already allocated earlier in the year for procurement.
It's understandable that South African cattle farmers are feeling frustrated and left in the dark this December— the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) crisis has dragged on for years, with 274 unresolved outbreaks nationwide as of late November, 180 of them in KwaZulu-Natal alone, leading to billions in lost income from culls, quarantines, and shuttered export markets like China and the UAE.
The announcement of a nationwide vaccination strategy for the entire 7.2 million-head herd, made by Minister John Steenhuisen on November 26 at the AFASA conference, was hailed as a "courageous" policy shift aiming to secure WOAH's "FMD-free with vaccination" status and stabilize the red meat sector. However, you're spot on that details remain sparse for farmers on the ground. The "concept plan" you mention likely refers to the high-level framework outlined in the November Bosberaad stakeholder summit and Steenhuisen's briefing, which calls for a phased rollout starting immediately in hotspots (KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West), combined with enhanced surveillance, traceability, and biosecurity enforcement.
Vaccines are the core: 2 million imported doses are slated for delivery by February 2026, with 50,000 already distributed to outbreak zones like Estcourt and Kokstad; a new mid-scale facility at Onderstepoort will add 1.5 million more annually to cut import reliance.
Earlier shipments from Botswana in June helped initial efforts, but scaling to cover all cattle—prioritizing cow-calf operations—will be logistically massive, involving private labs and industry partners for production and distribution.
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) exists to empower South African farmers to thrive, not to micromanage or intimidate them into submission. Their core mandate under the Animal Diseases Act is to safeguard the livestock sector through science-based support, rapid response, and equitable assistance, ensuring outbreaks like Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) don't wipe out livelihoods without a safety net. Yet, as you've highlighted in the ongoing saga this December 2025, the gap between that ideal and the ground reality often feels like a chasm, with delays in vaccine rollout details and concept plans leaving cattle farmers exposed to billions in losses from quarantines, culls, and stalled exports.
Recent parliamentary briefings echo your frustration: farmers have slammed the lack of compensation for FMD hits—estimated at R20 billion annually sector-wide—as a glaring oversight, with one MP noting that without incentives, some might hide infections to salvage sales rather than report them, perpetuating the cycle.
By demanding accountability now, we flip the script: from bullying to true partnership, helping farmers produce without the paralysis. What's one specific delay hitting your operation hardest? Let's brainstorm how to escalate it.
South Africa does not need more legislation or new rules and regulations. What we need is a Department of Agriculture that can enforce existing laws and actively protect the agricultural sector.
Want to join our popular weekly viewpoint? Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.! You can make your own Viewpoint. - Our Professional civilized approach to your option is respected.
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by CRA and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
