Nick Serfontein, a respected cattle farmer and Chairman of the Sernick Group, wrote an open letter to John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture.

Dear Mr John Steenhuisen

Acknowledgement

I would like to begin by recognising your passion for agriculture, the state veterinarians in the Free State for their attitude and cooperation, and all the organisations in the red-meat industry that are working to contain the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

Background

In 2018, I wrote an open letter to President Ramaphosa out of frustration with the lack of successful land reform. The letter was not confrontational; it was more of a plea for commercial farmers to be involved in land reform because we want this country, which we care for so deeply, to succeed. The response to my letter was overwhelming, so much so that I was asked to serve on the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture, which proved to be a truly traumatic experience.

It is now seven years later, and nothing has changed. Two members of the panel, Dr Vuyokazi Mahlati and Prof Mohammad Karaan, have since passed away. Land reform has been a failure for 30 years, remains a failure, and will continue to be a failure for a long time due to outdated ideologies.

For the past five years, I have challenged successful black farmers from various platforms about their expectation of receiving title deeds. My prediction is that it will not happen.

Leaving that aside…

A new abyss

Farmers of South Africa of all races, large- and small-scale, stand at the edge of a new abyss. As a result of foot-and-mouth disease, we have lost R1,5 billion in export markets this year alone. On 14 May 2025, I sent a letter to your office warning that a catastrophe was coming. On 2 June, there was an outbreak at Karan Beef. Although I had, and still have, enormous sympathy for Karan, my words were that it had to happen.

There are four categories in the beef value chain:

The informal sector: I have great sympathy for these people, because there is no market for them other than to load a cow or two onto a trailer and illegally sell them in order to survive.
The feedlot sector: These businesses are going through absolute hell, suffering major losses, but are devising plans to survive.
The commercial sector: Some producers will likely survive with significant losses, but many others who will go under.
The stud breeders: These farmers will likely be the worst affected, because the owner of a herd under quarantine cannot sell breeding animals for 24 months under current legislation. We have some of the best genetics in the world, but that means nothing if it cannot reach the market.

The task team of 30

The 30-member task team to address the foot-and-mouth situation was formed in July 2025. It is now four months later, and no one can confirm that there is a concrete plan on the table with objectives and target dates. Apparently there is a “war room” that gathers information, but without a plan, targets and “a commander who understands warfare”, it means nothing. And this is a war that can destroy the beef industry.

Meanwhile, the virus is spreading like wildfire before a strong westerly wind. Some outbreaks are being reported, but according to my information, the majority are not. The entire beef industry is under siege.

Honourable Minister, we farmers can sit and wait to see what happens, but that is not in our DNA. We cannot leave our future in the hands of veterinarians and scientists (with respect to both) and a bureaucracy that bullies us. We do have plans, with objectives, logistics and estimated costs, that have already been submitted to you or will be submitted this week.

Our request is simple: Listen to us. This is a state of emergency.

We do not want to fight, but we will be forced to do so if we are driven into a corner for the sake of survival.

Communication

A final point: Farmers do not know what progress has been made or is being made. A lack of communication creates the impression that nothing is happening.

Regards

Nick Serfontein
(In my personal capacity)

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