Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen says government is moving urgently to contain the worsening outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, as authorities race to protect millions of livestock and stabilise the agricultural sector.
During his State of the Nation Address on Thursday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the outbreak a national disaster, warning that nearly 14 million cattle are at risk. Government plans to vaccinate the entire national herd over the next 12 months, requiring an estimated 28 million doses.
Responding to the announcement, Steenhuisen said vaccine procurement is already under way, with millions of doses being sourced from international suppliers. The first shipment is expected to arrive within a week.
“The goal is to vaccinate 80% of the targeted herds by the end of the year and reduce the incidence of foot-and-mouth disease by 70%,” he said.
Steenhuisen noted that the scale of the campaign means government will rely on a broad public-private partnership, involving private veterinarians and animal health technicians to supplement limited state capacity.
“We will procure the vaccines, distribute them based on a scientific heat map developed by our task team, and vaccinate at scale,” he added.
KwaZulu-Natal has emerged as the epicentre of the outbreak, with all districts reporting cases. Provincial Premier Thami Ntuli welcomed the national disaster declaration, saying it would strengthen response efforts across affected regions.
Ntuli said while a provincial disaster classification might have allowed quicker direct procurement of vaccines, the national intervention ensures broader support and access to resources.
“We’re comfortable that the national government will provide free vaccines for both small-scale and commercial farmers,” he said.
With the livestock industry a cornerstone of the rural economy, officials say swift vaccination remains critical to preventing further spread and avoiding a costly blow to food security and agricultural exports.