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The agricultural sector is rejoicing following the news that the National Department of Agriculture (NDA) has lifted the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) management areas (DMA) in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
Minister of agriculture, John Steenhuisen, made the announcement earlier today that the DMAs were being lifted after intensified efforts by the Veterinary Services was successful in containing the spread of FMD in the two provinces.
Years of struggling ends
According to a departmental press release, the Limpopo DMA has been in place since September 2022 to control an FMD outbreak in dip tanks in the Vhembe municipality. Cattle at 34 dip tanks were vaccinated in two rounds of vaccination, with a total of 23 024 vaccinations done.
Following extensive serological surveillance conducted at the end of 2024, the department commented that it was satisfied that there was no evidence of FMD virus in the DMA and therefore all restrictions on the DMA could be lifted.
In the Kouga and Kou-Kamma municipalities in the Eastern Cape, a DMA has been in place since 26 July 2024 to support the control of outbreaks of FMD. Vaccination was implemented as a control measure and 144 424 vaccinations were done.
The last cases were reported in September 2024. Extensive serological surveillance was also done in this province to confirm that there were no undetected pockets of the disease, and based on those findings the minister was able to lift the DMA.
However, the 76 Eastern Cape farms that were infected and/or vaccinated remain under quarantine. Movement restrictions will remain in place until testing has confirmed the absence of viral circulation, the department added. Testing will commence 12 months after vaccination.
Industry rejoices
“This is the result of the hard work of the department’s teams on the ground. Gerhard Coetzer and his teams are owed a large word of gratitude,” Douw Pelser, chairperson of the Red Meat Producer’s Organisation (RPO) Limpopo, told AgriOrbit. “They’ve been working incredibly hard since last year to vaccinate animals, and in fact, they are yet again busy vaccinating. We can thank all of them.”
Fanie Ferreira, CEO of the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO), said this welcome development marks the end of a challenging period for many dairy producers. “We want to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to you – our farmers – for your patience, cooperation, and resilience throughout the past year. Your commitment to biosecurity protocols and responsible farming practices played a vital role in containing the spread of the disease and restoring stability to the region.”
Ferreira also thanked other key stakeholders, such as the veterinary teams, industry partners, and government departments, who played a role during this time. “Their joint efforts have been instrumental in achieving this positive outcome. Please note that farms currently placed under quarantine will remain under quarantine until such time as a formal notice is received by the landowner, lifting those restriction.”
Deidre Carter, CEO of Agri Limpopo, also welcomed the announcement. “This moment marks a significant milestone – the first time in seven years that Limpopo has regained FMD-free status in these affected zones. It reflects the tireless commitment and cooperation of all stakeholders across government, the agricultural industry, and the farming community in restoring animal health and reinforcing the integrity of the livestock value chain.”
Besides the province’s veterinarian services and farmers, Carter also thanked the Limpopo FMD Forum, RPO Limpopo, the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), Agri SA, the Greater Mapungubwe Stakeholders Forum, and two local auctioneers – André Kock en Seun and Vleissentraal – for the role they all played in implementing and upholding stringent biosecurity protocols.
“Our partners in law enforcement, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Stock Theft Unit, and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) must also be thanked for maintaining order and assisting with compliance efforts.
Biosecurity still priority
Minister Steenhuisen emphasised that biosecurity remained everybody’s responsibility. “Biosecurity is not just a farming concern, but a shared responsibility of every individual in South Africa. We call on all citizens, especially those interacting with livestock or moving between rural areas, to consistently adhere to all biosecurity measures. Only through our collective efforts can we safeguard our agricultural sector, make sure livelihoods are protected, and ensure we keep our areas FMD-free,” minister Steenhuisen added. – Susan Marais, Plaas Media
For more information readers can contact Wilma Prinsloo, general manager of RPO Limpopo on 082 555 4553 or Anri Wolmarans, regional manager of MPO Eastern Cape at ec@mpo.co.za.
