The North West government has intensified its efforts to contain the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) through a targeted vaccination rollout in Marikana, with premier Lazarus Mokgosi recently leading the campaign.
The initiative forms part of a coordinated provincial response to protect livestock, support farmers and safeguard the agricultural sector, which remains a key contributor to the North West economy.
MEC for agriculture and rural development, Madoda Sambatha, and Sibanye-Stillwater, vice president for stakeholder relations, Dr Oupa Nkagisang, joined Mokgosi during the vaccination drive.
Vaccination drive prioritises epicentre
The rollout follows the province receiving a consignment of 100 000 vaccines, which have since been distributed across all four districts. The Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Bojanala districts have been prioritised as the current epicentres of the outbreak.
In a statement, the department said to date, a total of 23 193 hoofed animals have been vaccinated using the Biogenesis Bago FMD virus vaccine.
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“State veterinarians and animal health technicians have been deployed to expedite the implementation of the vaccination strategy, targeting farms and villages within a 5 km radius of infected animals and prioritising animals that are currently negative but remain at risk. This targeted approach aligns with the national objective of vaccinating 90% of the cattle population,” the department stated.
Addressing livestock farmers during an information session at the Marikana Community Hall, Mokgosi urged farmers to vaccinate their animals as a critical step in mitigating and controlling the spread of the disease.
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“It is now critical for farmers to protect their animals and the North West economy by adhering to FMD protocols. Government is here to support you, so it is imperative that you report any suspicious symptoms promptly.
“While controlling the movement of animals in communal settings may be challenging, we appeal to farmers to limit animal movement as much as possible to protect the provincial economy, which relies significantly on the agricultural sector,” Mokgosi said.
Partnership to target mineworkers
Mokgosi also expressed appreciation to Sibanye-Stillwater for its partnership with the government in supporting awareness initiatives.
Sambatha indicated that the province is expecting additional vaccine consignments from the national government. He emphasised that farmers will be guided by veterinarians regarding booster vaccinations once the initial dose has been administered.
“With Marikana situated in an area surrounded by both mining operations and farming communities, Sibanye-Stillwater partnered with government to support the vaccination rollout and awareness campaigns.
“The initiative aims to ensure that livestock owners, many of whom are mineworkers, are well informed about the benefits of vaccination and the preventative measures necessary to protect their livestock,” Sambatha said.
Meanwhile, Nkagisang emphasised the importance of sustainable development initiatives beyond mining.
“Mining will not be here forever. We need projects that are sustainable, such as agriculture. We have been working closely with government institutions to ensure that former mineworkers and residents of Marikana can grow and develop within the agricultural sector.
“Beekeeping and horticulture are among the projects we have supported,” Nkagisang said.
He further noted that several mineworkers and residents living near the mine own livestock that have been affected by foot-and-mouth disease. Sibanye-Stillwater is therefore supporting the department’s awareness campaign to ensure that farmers understand the benefits of vaccination and the preventative measures they can take.
Head of veterinary services in the province, Dr Langa Madyibi, concluded the information session by outlining how farmers can access vaccines, highlighting the importance of vaccination and reinforcing key control measures required to prevent the spread of the disease.
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