Gauteng ramps up security, roadblocks as foot-and-mouth disease threatens food prices and jobs

By Thapelo Molefe

Gauteng has moved to tighten animal movement, deploy roadblocks and mobilise multiple government departments as the province battles what officials describe as the worst foot-and-mouth disease outbreak since South Africa lost its disease-free status in 2019.

Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the outbreak has reached the level of a national animal health crisis, warning that failure to contain it could drive up food prices, especially beef, and deepen food insecurity in the country’s economic hub.

“If it harms the economy of our province, you will see the escalation of food prices, especially beef, and other related prices that may make food security a difficult aspect in our province,” Lesufi said during a media briefing on Tuesday.

The outbreak, which has been unfolding for months, has hit Gauteng harder than any other province. According to the provincial government, 195 laboratory-confirmed outbreaks are currently being managed, with an estimated 261,000