KwaZulu-Natal Declares Foot and Mouth Disease Enemy Number One as Vaccination Campaign Reaches 1.7 Million Cattle

KwaZulu-Natal is intensifying its fight against Foot and Mouth Disease as the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development works to protect livestock, food security and the livelihoods of farming communities. MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Hon. Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa has described Foot and Mouth Disease, commonly known as FMD, as the “enemy number one” facing the province’s livestock sector. The declaration comes as the province reports significant progress in its vaccination and containment campaign, with 1.7 million cattle already vaccinated out of an estimated 2.5 million cattle across nine districts. Speaking to more than 1,500 people and farmers at the Stakeholder Engagement on Animal Husbandry and Food Security at eMachibini Sportfield in Mtubatuba, uMkhanyakude District, the MEC stressed that progress must not lead to complacency. The province now faces the critical task of completing the remaining vaccination coverage while maintaining strict disease control measures.

FMD remains a serious threat to cattle and other cloven-hoofed livestock because an outbreak can have consequences that extend well beyond individual farms. The disease can affect animal health, disrupt livestock movement and place pressure on agricultural markets and farming incomes. For many rural households, livestock also represents an important household asset that can help families meet major financial and social obligations. KaMadlopha-Mthethwa emphasised this broader significance when she told stakeholders that a healthy cow can represent school fees, lobola and financial insurance for a family. Her message underlined why controlling FMD requires cooperation between government, farmers, traditional leaders and communities.

The vaccination figures show the scale of the provincial response. Of the estimated 2.5 million cattle targeted across KwaZulu-Natal’s nine districts, 1.7 million have received vaccination as part of the FMD containment campaign. This represents substantial progress and demonstrates the scale of work being undertaken by veterinary teams across the province. However, the remaining cattle still need to be reached to strengthen the province’s overall protection against the disease. Government has therefore continued to deploy veterinary teams while working with farmers and community leaders to ensure that cattle are available when vaccination teams arrive.

Two districts, uMzinyathi and Amajuba, remain outstanding in the first phase of the provincial vaccination coverage. The Department plans to deploy vaccination teams to these areas in the coming weeks as it works towards completing the initial phase. Communities in these districts have been urged to cooperate with veterinary officials and ensure that all cattle are presented for vaccination. The success of the campaign depends heavily on farmers making their animals available and following veterinary guidance. Completing vaccination coverage across the outstanding areas will be an important step in strengthening KwaZulu-Natal’s overall FMD containment efforts.

The MEC praised veterinary teams for their work in responding to the outbreak and implementing measures aimed at limiting the spread of the disease. She also recognised the contribution of traditional leaders and farmers who have cooperated with dipping, movement controls and the reporting of suspected cases. These measures form an important part of disease management because vaccination works alongside other controls designed to reduce transmission risks. Early reporting of suspected cases can also help veterinary authorities respond more quickly when disease is detected. Continued cooperation at community level will therefore remain essential as the province moves into the next phase of its response.

Movement control is particularly important during an FMD outbreak because the movement of infected or exposed animals can increase the risk of spreading the disease to new areas. Farmers and livestock owners need to follow applicable veterinary instructions and movement restrictions to help protect their herds and neighbouring farms. Dipping and other livestock health measures also remain important components of broader animal husbandry practices. The Department’s engagement with communities provides an opportunity to explain these measures and encourage farmers to take responsibility for protecting their animals. A coordinated approach can reduce the risk of setbacks and help preserve the progress already achieved through the vaccination campaign.

KaMadlopha-Mthethwa urged communities in uMzinyathi and Amajuba to welcome vaccination teams and cooperate with the programme. This appeal is particularly important as the provincial campaign enters a stage where reaching the remaining cattle will determine how quickly the first phase can be completed. Farmers who have questions about vaccination or animal health can engage with veterinary officials and agricultural authorities for guidance. Making cattle available when teams arrive can also help ensure that vaccination operations proceed efficiently. Community participation will remain a key factor in determining whether the province can maintain the momentum achieved so far.

The veterinary-led vaccination operation is scheduled to resume in uMzinyathi District on Friday, 21 August 2026, with an estimated 285,000 cattle expected to be vaccinated. The planned operation represents a major undertaking and will require cooperation from farmers, livestock owners, traditional leaders and local communities. Reaching such a large number of cattle requires effective planning, communication and coordination between veterinary teams and the communities they serve. Farmers in the district therefore have an important role in ensuring that cattle are accessible for vaccination when teams conduct their operations. The resumption of the campaign in uMzinyathi will mark another significant step towards completing the first phase of provincial vaccination coverage.

The economic importance of protecting cattle also formed a central part of the MEC’s message. Livestock farming supports household incomes, commercial agricultural activity and food systems in many communities across KwaZulu-Natal. When livestock health is compromised, farmers can face production challenges and reduced market opportunities, while households that depend on cattle can experience wider financial pressure. Protecting livestock therefore supports more than animal health because it also protects productive assets and the economic stability of farming communities. This makes FMD control a food security and economic development priority as well as a veterinary responsibility.

The stakeholder engagement in Mtubatuba demonstrated the importance of bringing farmers and communities into discussions about animal health and food security. With more than 1,500 people and farmers attending, the event provided a significant platform for government to communicate progress and reinforce the importance of continued cooperation. The MEC’s message was that KwaZulu-Natal is making progress but cannot afford to relax its efforts while cattle remain unprotected. The vaccination of 1.7 million cattle represents a substantial achievement, but the remaining 800,000 cattle in the province’s estimated 2.5 million cattle population still need attention. As vaccination teams prepare to continue their work in uMzinyathi and Amajuba, sustained cooperation will be critical to protecting livestock and maintaining the gains already made.

KwaZulu-Natal’s fight against Foot and Mouth Disease has reached an important stage, with significant progress recorded but further work still required. The vaccination of 1.7 million cattle demonstrates the scale of the provincial response, while the remaining vaccination work in uMzinyathi and Amajuba highlights the need for continued urgency. MEC Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa’s declaration that FMD is the province’s “enemy number one” reflects the serious threat the disease poses to livestock, markets, food security and farming livelihoods. The planned vaccination of an estimated 285,000 cattle in uMzinyathi on Friday, 21 August 2026, will be an important next step in the campaign. By maintaining strong cooperation between government, veterinary teams, farmers, traditional leaders and communities, KwaZulu-Natal can continue strengthening its livestock sector and work towards ensuring healthier cattle, stronger agricultural livelihoods and greater food security.