Overview
- The Agriculture Minister unveiled a 10‑year phased strategy to stabilize outbreaks, consolidate controls, vaccinate at scale, and ultimately work toward regaining WOAH‑recognized freedom without vaccination.
- Nearly two million animals have been vaccinated to date with targets of 100% coverage in feedlots and dairy, 90% in commercial herds, and 80% in communal herds, with repeat campaigns in three months and biannual drives in hotspot zones.
- John Steenhuisen will ask Cabinet to declare foot‑and‑mouth disease a state of disaster to enable SAPS, SANDF, and traffic authorities to enforce strict livestock movement controls through the NatJOINTS system.
- Government is sourcing vaccines from Botswana, Argentina, and Turkey with about one million doses ready pending permits, while local production is being ramped up and all vaccines undergo antigenic matching at the Pirbright Institute.
- The outbreak has affected eight provinces with the Northern Cape reporting no cases, a 24‑member advisory task team has been appointed, and digital traceability plus strengthened surveillance aim to cut incidents in high‑risk provinces by 70% within 12 months.