After months of despair, mounting losses and sleepless nights for livestock farmers across the country, the first wave of high-potency foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines has touched down on South African soil.
Standing on the tarmac at O.R. Tambo International Airport on Saturday, agriculture minister John Steenhuisen oversaw the arrival of one million vaccine doses, a symbolic and practical turning point in a battle that has shaken the livestock sector to its core.
The shipment, sourced from Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina, is the first in a sustained pipeline of international supply. Additional consignments are expected in the coming weeks from BVI in Botswana and Dollvet in Turkey.
The government vows that by the end of March, more than five million doses will have entered the country from the three international suppliers.
For farmers who have watched markets collapse, herds quarantined and movement permits tighten across provincial borders, the arrival of vaccines signals more than logistics, it signals hope.
From containment to suppression
Vaccination has already begun in affected areas, but limited supply has slowed the pace and reach of the rollout.
“With this arrival, we can now accelerate protection across priority provinces and stabilise the livestock sector,” Steenhuisen said.
Outbreaks have now been reported across all nine provinces. Quarantine measures, movement restrictions and surveillance remain in place nationwide.
A risk-based vaccination strategy will prioritise outbreak epicentres in KwaZulu-Natal, parts of Gauteng, Free State and North West. High-risk and border regions will follow under structured vaccination programmes.
The approach combines vaccination with strengthened diagnostics, traceability systems and strict movement controls, all aimed at progressively restoring South Africa’s internationally recognised disease-free status.
The first million doses will be distributed as follows:
- KwaZulu-Natal, 200 000
- Free State, 200 000
- Eastern Cape, 150 000
- Mpumalanga, 100 000
- North West, 100 000
- Limpopo, 100 000
- Gauteng, 70 000
- Northern Cape, 50 000
- Western Cape, 30 000
ARC ramps up local production
While international shipments plug the immediate gap, the Agricultural Research Council has committed to producing 20 000 doses per week locally, with plans to scale up to 200 000 doses per week in 2027.
That scale-up is critical if South Africa is to move from reactive outbreak management to sustained suppression of viral circulation in high-risk zones.
Few sectors have felt the sting of the outbreak as sharply as dairy. Production losses, disrupted markets and mounting financial pressure have left many farming families reeling.
Steenhuisen confirmed he will visit Mooi River in KwaZulu-Natal next week to vaccinate dairy cattle alongside veterinarians and farmers.
“The dairy industry has been among the hardest hit,” he said. “Each vaccinated herd means stability returning to a business, wages returning to workers and milk returning to shelves.”
But the minister was equally firm in his warning that vaccines alone will not defeat the disease.
“Quarantine rules, movement permits and biosecurity measures exist to protect every farmer in the country,” he said. “Those who deliberately move animals illegally, conceal infections, or ignore restrictions threaten the recovery of the entire sector.”
He added that wilful non-compliance will be met with law enforcement intervention.
Dedicated FMD support line launched
To strengthen communication and on-the-ground support, the department of agriculture has established a dedicated FMD control centre.
From this week, farmers can access a toll-free support line, 0860 246 640, offering:
- Information about FMD symptoms
- Guidance on movement controls and permits
- Updates on vaccine availability
- Practical biosecurity advice
An official WhatsApp channel has also been launched to provide regular FMD updates.
“We are moving step by step from crisis management to control,” Steenhuisen said. “Vaccines are arriving, the system is scaling up, and compliance will be enforced.”
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