According to the Animal Diseases Act of 1984, which legislates the control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) when an outbreak occurs, it is the state’s responsibility to respond to the disease in the public’s interest. Gauteng’s efforts to contain the outbreak are in focus, with stricter measures and real-time information updates and data integrations being used to safeguard the desired outcomes.
By Levi Letsoko
While the red meat industry aims to grow by more than 20%, or R12 billion, by 2030, it still has to grapple with climate realities imposed by seasonal patterns. In a report titled the “Red Meat Industry Strategy (RMIS) 2030”, beef is expected to make up 80% of this value, with 40% to 50% of the livestock in communal and smallholder farmers’ hands. However, the reality of FMD outbreaks is not without economic implications.
Change Management
There is ongoing debate over whether the current FMD situation qualifies as a national disaster. Although certain stakeholders believe the threshold for a national disaster hasn’t been met, other key players are not so optimistic. Farmers are lamenting the lack of support from both national and provincial agricultural structures amid the battle with FMD.
Samson Mashiane, a farmer in Gauteng, is currently affected by the outbreak, which he says started in December 2025. He says he saw three of his cattle showing signs of sickness, and shortly after he started treating them, two more cattle got infected. He sighs as he explains the pattern of infection and recovery, which he is striving to contain on a daily basis, under highly stressful conditions. Although he was impressed by the recovery of the three cattle that were initially infected, he says it remains a highly hostile climate with extreme economic implications.
“There has not been any tangible intervention from the provincial government. We only received alerts and messaging around how we should respond to the outbreak to better manage the change in food production schedules,” says Mashiane. “The most effective interventions should include the provision of vaccines and veterinarians to help contain the spread as effectively as possible,” he adds.
Although FMD is not insect-borne, it is a contagious viral disease spread through direct or indirect contact with infected animals. It shares characteristics commonly associated with phenomena resulting from climate change.
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A Balanced, Evidence-based Approach to FMD
The Gauteng government has aligned itself with the national veterinary strategy, which is endorsed by the World Organisation for Animal Health’s progressive FMD control pathway. It is characterised by targeted risk-based vaccination, intensive surveillance across both vaccinated and non-vaccinated farms, and strict enforcement of quarantines.
The MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in Gauteng, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, is spearheading the province’s efforts to respond to this wave of infections. She says FMD puts stress on production schedules in a manner that impacts livestock farmers’ capacity to meet the market’s demand.
“Once stabilisation [of infections] is achieved and surveillance confirms the absence of ongoing viral circulation, South Africa will be positioned to enter the international oversight pathway that confines FMD to designated control zones, rather than allowing it to spread across the republic,” says Ramokgopa.
FMD’s genuine ability to affect production cycles makes it a type-A stress factor. Its impact on future herd sizes and ultimately the quantity and quality of meat supplies makes the sustainability of livestock harder to forecast. On the impact of the disease on dairy systems, Ramokgopa explains that data collected by her department shows it severely affects animal welfare and milk production. Infected cows suffer from reduced immunity and production stress, which compromises both output and quality. This undermines consumer confidence in the quality of local produce and raises concerns about whether it can meet the expectations outlined in the mission statement.
Also read: FMD | Experts urge caution with farmers’ ‘tiger heart’ syndrome diagnoses
Protecting the Farming Sector Economy
According to the “RMIS 2030”, a strong focus on public and animal health is key to ensuring the sector returns to its pre-2019 status as FMD-free zone, with no viral diseases posing a threat to livestock production. The strategy goes on to highlight the importance of strengthening production capacity in the informal sector to ensure that the forecast growth in the meat-supply trade remains inclusive. It also points to the importance of revising market access policies and improving competitiveness for livestock farming sustainability.
Mashiane is currently at the centre of the FMD battle as he monitors the infection and recovery rate of his cattle. He has pointed out the importance of ensuring these outbreaks are kept in check, as allowing them to continue directly affects food security. If not contained, good-quality and market-appropriate meat supplies will be scarce, pushing the price of meat products to skyrocket. “Beef suppliers will face various restrictions if the disease persists, as their meat products will face more stricter trading conditions. [Meat exports will struggle to access external markets] because of a decline in trust,” he says.
Hostile Climate Remains a Reality
Ramokgopa says during the outbreak, her department has observed that the limitation on animal movements disrupts milk production. As a result, processing requirements are increased because of infection control protocols, affecting the entire supply chain.
“We are acutely aware that these interventions have economic implications for producers. That is why the department is committed to a balanced, evidence-based approach – one that protects the broader farming sector and national biosecurity while also seeking practical, humane and scientifically justified solutions that do not unnecessarily undermine livelihoods,” she says. “Our approach is not punitive; it is protective of farmers, of the food system and of the national agricultural economy.”
She highlights that, although the climate remains hostile, national disaster declarations are a last resort – only made after the full scale of the impact on lives and livelihoods has been assessed, while resources are allocated to mitigate the outbreak’s effects.
Also read: Shared facilities hamper FMD control for communal livestock farmers
