Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen says if it is found that cattle were illegally transported from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) control areas to the Western Cape, he will not hesitate to initiate criminal proceedings.

By Alani Janeke, Senior Journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture is currently tracing and investigating the movement of cattle with suspected foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) lesions to determine their point of origin. The animals were moved from a property in Gouda to a farmer in the Free State.

The Gouda property was placed under quarantine after the lesions were observed around the animals’ mouths during an inspection, according to a statement by Western Cape Veterinary Services. Blood samples were taken and sent for laboratory testing.

Two other properties from where cattle were moved on 30 October, one in Velddrif and one in Bredasdorp, are also under quarantine and will be inspected.

Also read: Possible cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) put three Western Cape farms under quarantine

“The origin of the potentially infected cattle is still being verified. The transport company responsible for moving the animals is under investigation, and all properties linked to this company over the past 30 days will be contacted and inspected,” according to the statement.

Minister John Steenhuisen says he reserves the right to pursue criminal action should anyone be found to have acted illegally or contravened regulations. His spokesperson, Joylene van Wyk, says he has previously made it clear that criminal charges will be brought against those who fail to comply with measures put in place to limit the spread of FMD.

Also read: FMD | KZN farmers set up their own control points (and more to follow)

Case Dragging on Since 2020

The case against Sors Snyman, an auctioneer from Polokwane who was arrested in January 2020 for allegedly contravening the Animal Diseases Act, is still ongoing.

The matter was scheduled to be heard in the Mogwadi (formerly Dendron) Magistrate’s Court in October this year, but has been postponed to March 2026.

Jan Nel, biosecurity marshal at Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), < https://rmis.co.za/ > has been closely monitoring the case since Snyman’s first court appearance in 2020. He has continued to make enquiries to the police and prosecuting authority about the progress of the investigation over the past five years.

Nel told African Farming earlier this year that the matter had been placed on the court roll for 1-3 October 2025.

In a statement released in January 2020, the national Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development announced that Snyman had been arrested after allegedly receiving cloven-hoofed animals from the FMD control area, taking them to auctions and selling them to various buyers. He was released on bail of R10 000 the same month.

Also read: FMD: Auctioneer Sors Snyman’s case back on court roll after five years

Thoko Didiza, then minister of agriculture, said at the time that his arrest followed an outbreak of FMD in Limpopo at the end of 2019, after which the department lodged a complaint with the police.

Following the outbreak, the department announced on 14 November 2019 that livestock auctions would be banned in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and North West. On 4 December that year, this was extended to a countrywide ban on auctions and exhibitions of cloven-hoofed animals.