By Levy Masiteng
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has formally lifted Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) restrictions within the KwaZulu-Natal Disease Management Area (DMA), marking a significant turning point in South Africa’s battle against the highly contagious livestock disease.
Speaking during a media briefing in Cape Town on Tuesday, Steenhuisen said the move reflects improving conditions on the ground and growing confidence in containment measures.
He also revealed that 2.5 million doses of FMD vaccines have already been distributed nationwide.
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“The vaccines were sourced from Argentine manufacturer Biogénesis Bagó to accelerate the rollout,” he said.
Steenhuisen also confirmed the official publication of the Routine Vaccination Scheme for Foot and Mouth Disease (RVS-FMD) in the Government Gazette on Monday, under Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984).
The scheme is expected to streamline vaccination efforts and enable faster, more coordinated responses across the country.
“While we roll out the national, fully funded vaccination programme, commercial partners are being enabled to act swiftly to protect their livestock,” Steenhuisen said.
Meanwhile, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) has ramped up local vaccine production efforts.
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Steenhuisen said the ARC has already distributed 12,900 doses nationwide, with 80,000 SAT 2 doses ready for targeted deployment and production scaled up to 20,000 doses per week.
The combined efforts of international procurement and local production, he said, represent “a critical boost to protect the national herd” and strengthen resilience within the livestock sector.
“As government, we understand that in farming, time is money, and delays are a risk you cannot afford,” Steenhuisen said.
