The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has resumed its foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination campaign in the iLembe and King Cetshwayo districts.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
The campaign will continue until 5 August 2026, following the successful completion of mass vaccinations in seven districts across the province.
Veterinary teams have already vaccinated 1.5 million cattle since the campaign started in late February, said Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development.
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Programme remains on schedule
Speaking during Cabinet Day’s Operation Sukuma Sakhe programme in KwaDukuza, the MEC said the department remains on track to complete the province’s vaccination campaign within its planned six-month timeframe.
The MEC said vaccinations are currently being carried out simultaneously in iLembe and King Cetshwayo, which together have an estimated cattle population of nearly 200 000.
Thereafter vaccination teams will move on to Amajuba and uMzinyathi, the final districts in the provincial campaign.
Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, addresses the media during the launch of the resumed FMD vaccination campaign in KwaDukuza. Photo: Supplied
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Seven districts already completed
Vaccination campaigns in the uGu, Harry Gwala, uMkhanyakude, Zululand, uMgungundlovu, eThekwini and uThukela districts have been completed.
The department also announced the second phase of booster vaccinations for dairy cattle has been completed. In partnership with the commercial sector, the department administered 355 000 vaccine doses to dairy cattle during the initial phase in May 2026. A further 240 000 booster vaccinations have now been completed.
Also read:
KZN passes halfway mark in FMD vaccination campaign – seventh district completed
KZN agriculture gets R2.8 billion budget – youth, mechanisation and FMD fight top the agenda
