South African farmers are anxiously waiting for a response from Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen following the country’s second outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) this year.
Last week, Steenhuisen confirmed he was being briefed on the situation by the FMD task team, but farmers say clarity and decisive action are long overdue.
Industry-Led Vaccine Procurement
Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) CEO Dewald Olivier said 644 000 doses of the FMD SAT-strain vaccine arrived from the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) two weeks ago. The procurement was industry-led, coordinated by RMIS in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture.
Olivier explained the vaccine is water-based, offering protection for up to four months, and is suited to vaccination-to-kill strategies typically applied in feedlots. It is not ideal for long-term use in breeding herds.
The doses are stored at Onderstepoort Biological Products and will be distributed to feedlots and contributing buyers. Discussions are ongoing with the department and international partners to diversify vaccine supply.
Farmers Frustrated by Departmental Failures
TLU SA general manager Bennie van Zyl said farmers learned of the outbreaks through media reports, raising questions about transparency and departmental responsiveness.
Criticism also comes from Theo de Jager, chair of the Southern African Agri Initiative, citing recent audit findings presented to Parliament. The report highlighted:
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A qualified audit opinion, spending 94% of the department budget while achieving only 83% of targets.
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Fruitless and wasteful expenditure rising from R40 million to R104 million, with no recovery or consequence management.
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Persistent irregular expenditure and weak internal controls.
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28 ongoing forensic investigations, many incomplete, showing repeated failures in financial and operational management.
“Money intended for farmer development, disease control, and infrastructure is being swallowed by administrative waste, while the farming sector faces isolation from international partners,” de Jager said.
Farmers’ Call to Action
With trust in the Department of Agriculture waning, farmers are urging Minister Steenhuisen to:
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Provide a clear and immediate response to contain the FMD outbreak.
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Ensure efficient distribution and use of vaccines for high-risk areas.
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Address accountability gaps to prevent future mismanagement and reputational damage.
The second outbreak underscores the urgent need for proactive disease control, transparent governance, and better coordination between government and industry to protect South Africa’s livestock sector.
