- Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen says farmers must pay private vets themselves if they want to vaccinate their own animals now.
- A foot and mouth disease outbreak is choking rural economies and stopping farmers from moving their livestock across the country.
A spreading sickness is choking rural economies and locking down livestock across South Africa.
The foot and mouth disease outbreak struck in 2025 and is still ripping through several provinces. It makes it hard for farmers to move their animals around the country.
Now, the government has folded under heavy pressure from the farming industry. Farmers can finally buy medicine and pay private vets to vaccinate their own animals.
Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen outlined the strict new rules on Tuesday. Farmers who take over the job must pay all the costs themselves. They must keep clear records, use approved health workers, and let the state track the animals, BusinessDay reported.
The state will keep paying to vaccinate animals for farmers who choose not to go private. The government might share some costs later.
The sickness has spread so fast that Steenhuisen stripped KwaZulu Natal of its strict disease management area status. He said the infections have broken past the old borders. The whole country now needs a broader plan.
South Africa is scrambling for more medicine. The state has signed deals to grab vaccines from Argentina and Brazil. Brazil will also share its knowledge to help wipe out the disease.
Officials have secured millions of doses, but they warn that supplies remain very tight. The medicine must exactly match the virus strain spreading on farms before vets can use it.
The state has already vaccinated more than 2.5 million animals. Steenhuisen said the government wants to hit 80% of the national herd by December.
The long term plan is to wipe out the sickness completely so local farmers can sell their meat to the world again.
Pictured above: Cows.
Image source: File
