Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been declared a national disaster and all necessary state resources will be deployed to combat the livestock disease, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his State of the Nation Address for 2026.
By Francois Williams, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
It took the president a full hour before he referred to the agricultural industry for the first time in his speech. According to Ramaphosa, a task team of agricultural organisations and experts has been established under the leadership of John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture, and his department. The task team will report to Ramaphosa monthly on progress in the fight against FMD. When he mentioned the task team, it was greeted with sceptical cries from the audience.
He reiterated that the state will centrally manage the procurement of FMD vaccines so that the correct vaccine can be obtained for the virus strains found in South Africa.
“Will Work With The Private Sector”
According to Ramaphosa, it appears that many people, as during the Covid-19 pandemic, wanted to obtain “their own vaccines for themselves”, but it is important that the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) is the single organisation that will approve vaccines.
The government will work closely with the private sector for the effective distribution of vaccines and will ensure that commercial, private and communal farmers have immediate access to vaccines.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that the FMD outbreak was the worst the country had ever seen, with damage to the economy from export bans, trade restrictions and the destruction of herds. The entire national livestock herd of 14 million head of cattle must be vaccinated over the next few months and 28 million doses are needed, Ramaphosa said.
According to him, the government needs experts and “people with good knowledge must be mobilised to work with the government in the fight against foot-and-mouth disease”.
Also read: Where is Dr Maja in the FMD crisis? On leave, says department
Job Creation Potential
Agriculture is one of the sectors that can create future growth and jobs, Ramaphosa said. The sector is expanding rapidly and South Africa is now the second-largest exporter of citrus in the world.
New markets are being opened for agricultural exports – from citrus to avocados and maize, grapes, wine and livestock.
He said R7,8 billion in innovative financing has been made available to black farmers and 10 000 extension officers will be appointed to help emerging farmers. There are many opportunities for young people to work in agriculture.
Ramaphosa referred to Ethiopia, whose agriculture sector was once the worst-performing sector of its economy, but about 40 000 extension officers were appointed to help farmers and soon agriculture became Ethiopia’s best-performing economic sector.
Also read: FMD | ‘Right, John… Let’s get to work’
Co-Ordinated Implementation of State of Disaster Needed – AgriSA
AgriSA welcomed the announcement that FMD is being declared a national disaster. “AgriSA expects this step will create the enabling regulatory environment needed for a better co-ordinated national response,” said Johann Kotzé, CEO of AgriSA, in a media statement.
Kotzé said the organisation is deeply concerned about the “cumulative economic impact if the outbreak is not brought under control quickly, especially for small towns and communities that are largely dependent on livestock-related activities”.
He added that AgriSA also notes the broader reform commitments Ramaphosa outlined in his State of the Nation Address, including reforms to rail and road infrastructure, intensified action against organised crime, continued restructuring of the electricity sector, raising water security to national crisis level and the explicit positioning of agriculture as a priority growth and job creation sector alongside mining, services and the green economy.
“These interventions are of critical importance for agriculture,” said Kotzé. “Reliable transport corridors are essential for the movement of livestock and agricultural products, energy stability is critical for production and processing, and combating organised crime is fundamental to restoring confidence in rural economies and value chains.”
He said AgriSA will hold structured weekly consultations with commodity organisations and provincial stakeholders.
Also read:
FMD | Task team member kicked out after controversy over ARC’s BCG vaccine
FMD | First vaccine administered in Humansdorp this week
FMD | ‘We don’t mandate who sources and administers vaccines’ – WOAH
WATCH | SA’s own FMD vaccines – we were there!
