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

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Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen slammed the African National Congress (ANC) local coalition during a rally in Nelson Mandela Bay on Monday, accusing the party of corruption and incompetence in its handling of the metro. 

“The ANC coalition in Nelson Mandela Bay is corrupt and incompetent, and has failed to deliver basic services to residents,” he said. 

“In the Eastern Cape, over the past three years, more than R1.3 billion in infrastructure funding has gone unspent, even as basic services collapse and residents continue to suffer.”

Steenhuisen was speaking at a campaign rally in Algoa Park, where Retief Odendaal was formally announced as the party’s mayoral candidate for the metro. Odendaal served mayor from September 2022 until he was removed in a motion of no confidence in May 2023.

Speaking about the DA’s turnaround plan for the metro, Steenhuisen said the party’s focus would be on

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