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KwaZulu-Natal Livestock commodity groups have called on government to formally declare foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) a disaster as KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) grapples to contain the spread. In 2021, affected areas in the province were declared a disease management area (DMA). The latest resurgence in 2025 has spread beyond this area and necessitated the expansion of the DMA, however the spread continues outside of these areas.
Under the banner of Kwanalu (KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union), leaders of the pork, dairy, beef, sheep, and game industries in KZN, convened last week to address the escalating crisis of FMD in the province.
As reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on 30 April 2025, KZN has experienced 167 outbreaks of FMD since 2019, of which 18 have been closed, with 149 still active. Notably these numbers continue to increase following the 2025 outbreak originating from the Amajuba district. Despite gazetted containment efforts, continued disease spread is largely due to uncontrolled livestock movements, particularly from communal herds.
Agricultural businesses facing closure
The economic impact is severe and far-reaching, affecting all sectors of the livestock value chain and threatening the viability of commercial and emerging farming operations alike. Producers within the Disease Management Area (DMA) face movement restrictions, economic distress, and a lack of viable market pathways.
“The reality,” according to Sandy La Marque, CEO of Kwanalu, “is that small to mid-sized agricultural businesses face closure. The situation has eroded confidence in veterinary protocols and exposed systemic enforcement, and administrative, management, and other gaps.”
The delegation, which included senior leadership from the South African Pork Producers Organisation (SAPPO), Milk Producers Organisation (MPO), KwaZulu-Natal Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO KZN), Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA), the National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA), and Kwanalu, are urgently calling on the minister of agriculture to support a request to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to have KwaZulu-Natal declared a disaster.
This declaration is seen as critical to unlock funding, resources, and enforcement capacity needed to implement effective control measures, before the outbreak spirals into a greater national agricultural and economic crisis.
“The broader picture is that a larger population of rural and commercial livestock farmers rely on local and international markets to survive. If we don’t get FMD under control, it will result in businesses closing, increased unemployment, and poverty for the many families that rely on this industry,” said La Marque.
The whole country at risk
While the outbreak is currently predominantly concentrated in KZN, livestock industry leaders warn the rest of the country is at risk and that the immediate economic threat should not be taken lightly.
“It is affecting the economics of doing business as farms are quarantined. Without effective control strategies, it will become a nationwide issue,” said Angus Williamson, Kwanalu vice-president and Red Meat Producers Organisation chairperson.
International markets are also responding, with China, South Africa’s largest red meat export market by volume, suspending all imports of beef and other products derived from cloven-hoofed animals from 12 May 2025.
“We need a disaster declaration in order to open up the necessary funding and resources to implement a plan to combat the spread fast. In addition, producers must be allowed to implement a precautionary vaccination plan without penalty,” said Fanie Ferreira, CEO of the MPO.
More support needed
Despite the scale of the challenge, the livestock sector has already mobilised. “We, as organised agriculture, are doing our best to get everything done, from supporting the permit office to appealing for South African Police Service (SAPS) and Road Traffic Information (RTI) Unit support and other relevant resources, however we need more government support,” Williamson stressed.
Among the immediate needs are better enforcement of movement controls, vaccination programmes, traceability systems and coordinated communication strategies.
“Much more needs to be done, which is why we have met with livestock industry leaders to pool our resources and formulate a plan for what we need to stop the spread of FMD in KZN,” said La Marque.
According to Stephen Butt, previous chairman of the SAPPO, the world has changed and “we need to design an animal health protection system that works.”
The delegation’s united message is clear: It is not business as usual, there is a firm commitment from the private sector to find innovative ways to address the spread of FMD and be a partner in a solution for South Africa. A disaster declaration is essential to open up the necessary resources and additional intervention measures.
“We have met as the KZN livestock industry to see what can be done together, said PJ Hassard, president of Kwanalu. “We are committed to finding solutions as soon as possible. Our thoughts are with the farmers, workers, and rural families already affected by this crisis. – Izak Hofmeyr, Plaas Media
