KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture MEC orders total ban on animal movements as FMD vaccines are distributed

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, has issued a stern warning to farmers and livestock owners regarding the illicit movement of animals amid a severe outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the province.

Speaking to the media at the Provincial Veterinary Laboratory – Allerton in Pietermaritzburg’s Cascade area, where she oversaw the distribution of 200,000 FMD vaccines for mass vaccination in the uGu District, the MEC emphasised the gravity of the situation.

“We urge the public who continue to engage in cattle movement to stop doing that. This instruction applies even to those using cattle for ilobolo. As an alternative, online platforms may be used for dowry exchanges. We also request traditional leaders to advise their subjects against illegal movement of animals in their communal lands. We have to be harsh now so that people will see how serious we are in dealing with this. This disease is serious; we have to adhere to the animal control measures that have been put in place,” she said.

Vaccine Distribution and Strategy

The vaccination campaign targets uGu and Harry Gwala districts. MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa explained that these areas were selected because they have not reported any cases of the SAT 3 FMD virus. The BioGenesis Bago vaccinesare designed to neutralise SAT 1 and SAT 2 viruses, which are present in the local cattle populations. Attempting mass vaccination in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where SAT 3 may be present, would be ineffective.

Dr. Kolisa Amanda Nokoyo, Deputy Director of Veterinary Diagnostic Services, added that the Allerton Laboratory facility, used to store the vaccines, will soon be upgraded to enable testing of all blood samples, including suspected FMD cases. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to address the current backlog of FMD test results.

Mass Vaccination Rollout Plan

The mass vaccination campaign is scheduled to start on 26 February 2026, with the following plan in place:

1. KwaZulu-Natal has received 200,000 doses from the first batch of one million FMD vaccine doses.
2. Vaccines were collected from Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) in Pretoria and are securely stored at Allerton Laboratory, which has sufficient cold storage and backup generators.
3. Both state and registered private veterinarians are authorised to administer vaccines to accelerate the campaign. Private vets are encouraged to register with the Department of Agriculture to expand the workforce.
4. A total of 2,286 dip tanks will be covered over 4–6 months, reaching approximately 2.4 million cattle, including communal and commercial herds.
5. Vaccination will begin in districts bordering other provinces and countries, before moving inward.
6. 45 vaccination teams will operate daily, each targeting a location and vaccinating 45,000–90,000 animals. Each team comprises three Animal Health Technicians and four data capturers, working closely with livestock associations to capture details in the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS).
7. The campaign will start in uGu, then move to Harry Gwala districts.
8. For commercial farms and feedlots, the department is partnering with private veterinarians and industry bodies such as Kwanalu and the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) to monitor and facilitate the rollout, while the state oversees commercial farm vaccinations.

MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa reiterated the importance of strict adherence to animal movement controls and vaccination protocols to curb the spread of FMD, stressing that failure to comply could have severe consequences for the province’s livestock industry.