Gauteng foot-and-mouth disease alert

By Maile Matsimela

Gauteng Veterinary Services is alerting all livestock auctioneers and owners about a confirmed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the Mogale City District on 30 April 2025, traced to an animal purchased at one of Gauteng’s livestock auctions. This animal originated from another province.

Auction owners are advised that gathering animals from different locations increases the risk of spreading disease. To help prevent this, they are encouraged to adhere to the biosecurity guidelines established by APAC and comply with the Government Gazette notice issued on 7 October 2022.

All movements of cloven-hoofed animals must adhere to Government Gazette notice no.47263 of 7 October 2022, which has not been revoked and states under point 4:

“Document requirements for movement of cattle, sheep, and goats in the whole country: 1. Owner declaration attesting to the origin and health status of the animals. 2. Undertaking of the recipient at the destination that the animals will be isolated on the farm of destination for at least 28 days before introducing them into the main herd.”

Gauteng Veterinary Services (GVS) has learned that blank owner health declarations are being handed out at the auction gate for transporters, owners, and speculators to complete without proper care.

The owner’s health declaration is a legal document. Providing false or incomplete information on this form can lead to prosecution. All livestock owners and transporters are urged to complete these forms truthfully and adhere to all legal requirements to help protect animal health and the livestock industry.

Auctioneers must register with the Agricultural Produce Agents Council (APAC) per the Agricultural Produce Agents Act, Act No. 12 of 1992. A valid APAC certificate must always be displayed to operate.

The Biosecurity officer needs to physically inspect each animal arriving at the auction and isolate it immediately if there is any suspicion of FMD. The State Veterinarian of the area must be contacted immediately in such an event. GDARD endeavours to have one or more field officials at every auction, and such suspicions should also be brought to their attention without delay. If the animal(s) test positive for FMD, the auction will be placed under quarantine, as per the prescripts of the Animal Diseases Act, while cleaning and disinfection are undertaken to sanitise the auction premises, as infected animals would have been traced to the auction.

Auctioneers must keep accurate records of every sale. These must include:

Detailed information of sellers, including:

Full name(s) and contact information, including a copy of their ID and animal identification certificates.
- The origin of the animals (portion, farm registration number, name, or full residential address).
- A veterinary health declaration for the animals being auctioned, issued by the consulting veterinarian or a registered animal health professional, along with a movement permit issued by a State Veterinarian or Animal Health Technician, is required for animals originating from outside Gauteng.
- Or a farmer declaration as prescribed in Government Gazette notice no. 47263 of 7 October 2022, and a State Veterinary Movement permit for animals originating outside Gauteng.

Detailed information of buyers including:

Full name and contact details, including a copy of their ID document.
- The property destination (portion, farm registration number, name, or full residential address).
- An undertaking by the buyer to isolate the animals for 28 days on the destination farm, as prescribed in the Government Gazette notice no.47263 of 7 October 2022. During the current outbreak, the animals purchased at the auction were immediately introduced into the farm’s feedlot, resulting in the entire group becoming infected and posing a risk of spreading to the rest of the breeding herd.

The vets added that livestock from other Provinces must be accompanied by a movement permit from the State Veterinarian at the place of origin and a Veterinary Health Certificate. This should be a standard biosecurity and movement control practice that all stakeholders in the livestock value chain should adopt and practice to reduce the increasing frequency of infectious disease spread across provincial boundaries and between farms.

Furthermore, cloven-hoofed animals are under veterinary control from properties under quarantine or any FMD Disease Management Area and FMD control zones. They may not be sold at auctions in Gauteng. Be extra vigilant for animals appearing to come from KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga. Only animals identified according to the Animal Identification Act, act no 6 of 2002, may be sold at auctions.