KwaZulu-Natal MEC Calls for Stronger Collaboration to Combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, has raised concern over the escalating rate of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the province, warning that illegal movement of cloven-hoofed animals remains the main driver of the spread. Speaking at the two-day Foot-and-Mouth Disease Indaba, themed Ukumbambisana: United Against FMD, she emphasized that strict adherence to livestock movement regulations is vital to curb new infections.

The Indaba, held at Coastlands Hotel in uMhlanga, Durban, brought together hundreds of delegates from across South Africa and neighboring Botswana. The gathering aimed to strengthen cooperation between government, researchers, and the livestock industry to find long-term solutions to the ongoing FMD crisis.

FMD continues to affect several provinces, including Gauteng, North West, Free State, and Mpumalanga. KwaZulu-Natal, however, remains the worst-hit, with 180 unresolved outbreaks out of the 274 recorded nationally as of October 2025. Despite efforts to contain the disease through the expansion of the Disease Management Area (DMA) in 2025, new cases linked to the 2021 KZN SAT2 FMD virus have been detected both inside and outside the DMA boundaries.

KaMadlopha-Mthethwa noted that despite tight controls, illicit livestock movements remain a serious challenge. “Since mid-2025, there has been an increase in virus detections on farms and in feedlots outside the DMA, likely disseminated by auction and speculator sales of illegally moved animals combined with non-adherence to the legally prescribed 28-day isolation of animals post-movement and insufficient biosecurity,” she said.

Efforts are underway to improve vaccination coverage, but vaccine availability remains limited. Delegates at the Indaba agreed that vaccination and movement control measures must be implemented together to be effective. They also called for more regular, government-facilitated auctions to give communal farmers legitimate market access, reducing incentives for illegal livestock movement.

Key Resolutions from the FMD Consultative Indaba

The Indaba concluded with a set of practical resolutions designed to strengthen disease management and restore stability to the livestock sector:

1. Encourage farmers, speculators, auctioneers, and citizens to comply with livestock movement restrictions and obtain proper movement permits.
2. Urge the Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (ARC-OVI) to deposit FMD virus sequencing data into the national gene bank.
3. Call for ARC-OVI to share circulating vaccine strains with vaccine manufacturers.
4. Expedite authorization of the Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory as a second FMD diagnostic facility.
5. Ensure the state provides sufficient FMD vaccine stock for prophylactic vaccination across affected areas.
6. Develop clear market access protocols for farmers in the DMA, particularly previously disadvantaged producers.
7. Tighten biosecurity at farms, feedlots, and auctions to prevent disease transmission.
8. Conduct follow-up studies on the socio-economic impact of FMD in KwaZulu-Natal.
9. Establish a provincial FMD vaccine bank.
10. Revive the provincial Joint Operational Committee to coordinate response activities.
11. Prohibit illegal slaughter of vaccinated or positive cattle at non-designated abattoirs.
12. Strengthen reporting and communication between farmers and the state on confirmed cases.
13. Reinforce collaboration between industry and government in managing disease control efforts.

KaMadlopha-Mthethwa said the Department remains committed to restoring KwaZulu-Natal’s FMD-free status. “The aim is to adopt new approaches aligned with the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH), enabling the province to gradually achieve FMD-free zonal status. However, this process requires years of cooperation from all stakeholders,” she said.

The MEC expressed optimism that the partnerships formed at the Indaba would help lay the foundation for a coordinated, science-based strategy to protect South Africa’s livestock industry and rural livelihoods from further disruption.