Note to Editors: Please note Sakhile Mngadi, MPL sound bites in English and isiZulu
The DA – as a governing partner within KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) – welcomes the announcement by Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, of a comprehensive national Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination programme. This marks South Africa’s most structured and scientifically informed intervention since the onset of the current outbreak.
The national strategy includes the delivery of two million vaccine doses by February 2026, supported by an additional 1.5 million doses through government–industry collaboration. The DA also welcomes the establishment of a mid-scale domestic FMD vaccine production facility, which will strengthen South Africa’s long-term biosecurity capacity and reduce dependence on imports.
KZN has been among the provinces hardest hit by the outbreak, and the absence of a coordinated national vaccination effort has cost the agricultural sector significantly. Farmers have endured severe production losses, restricted market access due to the Disease Management Area (DMA), and ongoing financial strain. Industry leaders such as Kwanalu and the KZN Red Meat Producers Organisation have consistently raised concerns about weak enforcement and the need for urgent, decisive intervention.
The prioritisation of high-burden provinces – KZN, Gauteng, the Free State, Mpumalanga and the North West – reflects international best practice and positions South Africa to apply for freedom-with-vaccination status from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
However, for the rollout to succeed, consistent vaccine supply, intergovernmental coordination and robust enforcement of livestock movement controls are essential. Uncontrolled movement remains the single greatest threat to containment efforts.
As a GPU partner, the DA will work collaboratively to support implementation while exercising strong oversight to ensure accountability, effective enforcement and transparent reporting. We remain committed to safeguarding KZN’s agricultural economy. This vaccination programme represents a necessary turning point that can restore farmer confidence, stabilise production, and place the province firmly on the path to recovery.