John Steenhuisen, the Minister of Agriculture, and Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, the Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), led a ministerial foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination outreach campaign in Katlehong on the East Rand, Johannesburg, today. During this event, over 200 cattle were vaccinated and tagged as part of the government’s intensified response to FMD.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
Steenhuisen and Ramokgopa witnessed approximately 210 cattle receiving vaccinations as part of the province’s mass vaccination effort. Authorities have stated that thousands more animals will be vaccinated across the province as part of the national campaign aimed at controlling the disease.
The vaccination programme is underway following the arrival of two significant consignments of imported FMD vaccines in recent weeks. The first shipment, consisting of one million doses from the Argentine manufacturer Biogénesis Bagó, arrived in South Africa on 21 February 2026. A second consignment of 1.5 million doses was delivered shortly after, on 28 February, by the Turkish-based vaccine manufacturer Dollvet.
From the first batch, 200 000 doses were allocated to KwaZulu-Natal and another 200 000 to the Free State, while the Eastern Cape received 150 000 doses.
The provinces of Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo each received 100 000 doses, followed by Gauteng with 70 000 doses. The Northern Cape received 50 000 doses and the Western Cape 30 000.
The second consignment was allocated as follows: KwaZulu-Natal received 560 000 doses, Gauteng 213 000, the Free State 195 000, the Eastern Cape 152 000, Mpumalanga 95 000, North West 50 000, Northern Cape 35 000 and Limpopo 25 000. The Western Cape received 100 000 doses, while 75 000 doses were set aside for emergency use.
Also read: WATCH | Bodibe communal farmers vaccinate to increase cattle market value
Gauteng Tightens Movement Control
Speaking during the briefing, Ramokgopa said the province was pleased to accelerate the vaccination drive after receiving its second batch of imported vaccines.
She stressed that vaccination was only one of the tools available to control the disease and called for stronger collaboration among farmers, veterinarians and law enforcement agencies.
According to Ramokgopa, the province has refined its animal movement control framework, which has now been shared with law enforcement and security clusters to strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of FMD.
She emphasised that movement controls are not intended to stop farmers from trading but rather to ensure livestock movement is properly documented.
“Farmers’ livelihoods depend on their ability to trade and we are not saying they must stop trading,” she said. “We are simply asking that trading happens responsibly and with the required documentation.”
Ramokgopa added that as the country’s economic hub, Gauteng wants to see agricultural trade continue while protecting the livestock sector from further outbreaks.
Addressing Misinformation
The MEC also warned against misinformation circulating among farmers and communities regarding FMD vaccines.
She said there have been claims about alternative remedies and vaccines being sold on the black market, similar to misinformation seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There are no other vaccines available besides those provided for free by government through state and private veterinarians,” Ramokgopa said.
Also read: FMD | ‘Keep vaccines coming’ says first milk producer in KZN to have herd vaccinated
National Vaccination Strategy
Steenhuisen said South Africa now has a comprehensive strategy to deal with FMD for the first time in about three decades.
“In the past we simply waited with bated breath to see where the next outbreak would occur and reacted afterwards,” he said.
The minister said government aims to vaccinate at least 80% of the national herd by December this year. South Africa’s herd currently stands at an estimated 14 million cattle, although this figure may change as vaccination programmes expand into communal areas where under-reporting is common.
“If we reach that target, it means about 80% of the national herd will have been vaccinated twice by December, requiring roughly 28 million doses,” he said.
Vaccination will continue until the country can implement a compartmentalisation strategy in which certain regions stop routine vaccination while high-risk areas continue to vaccinate.
These high-risk areas include regions near the Kruger National Park and other wildlife areas in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as border regions.
The strategy will also involve regional cooperation with neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe and Eswatini to manage cross-border disease risks.
Also read: FMD vaccinations are free, beware of fake news – Steenhuisen
Vaccine Pricing And Conspiracy Claims
Steenhuisen also dismissed what he described as conspiracy theories around vaccine procurement.
He rejected claims that government was paying as much as R300 per dose for vaccines or that officials were profiting from the procurement process.
“FMD is a state-controlled disease, which means the state carries the cost and the vaccine is free to farmers,” he said. “We are paying between R60 and R68 per dose for these vaccines.”
The minister also refuted claims that government had signed an agreement allowing vaccine suppliers to take control of the country’s livestock if payments were not made.
“That is simply ridiculous,” he said. “A vaccine company has no interest in becoming farmers.”
Later this month, South Africa expects another major shipment of five million vaccine doses from Biogénesis Bagó to further expand the vaccination campaign.
Public Urged To Support Local Meat And Dairy
Steenhuisen encouraged consumers to continue buying locally produced meat and dairy products, noting that FMD does not pose a risk to human health.
“This disease is not zoonotic and cannot be transmitted to humans,” he said.
He added that local consumption is particularly important while some international markets remain closed due to South Africa’s current FMD status.
Focus On Containment
Both Steenhuisen and Ramokgopa also addressed questions about compensation for farmers who have lost animals due to the outbreak.
Steenhuisen said the immediate priority is containing the disease and minimising further losses.
He explained that Section 19 of the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984) provides a process through which farmers can apply for compensation when livestock losses occur.
Dr Wynton Rabolao, chief director of Veterinary Services at the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, also dismissed claims that FMD or vaccination could reduce livestock productivity.
According to him, authorities are running a communication campaign to counter misinformation and reassure farmers about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines.
