The spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) reportedly reached the Western Cape earlier this week. A farmer from the Free State reported suspected FMD lesions in cattle recently transported from the Gouda area in the Western Cape.
The Western Cape Veterinary Services placed the property in Gouda under quarantine. The department of agriculture said that during inspection, veterinarians observed suspected lesions in the animals’ mouths.
“Samples have been collected and sent for laboratory testing to confirm or rule out FMD. Two additional properties, located in the Velddrif and Bredasdorp areas, from which cattle had been moved on, have also been placed under quarantine and will be inspected.
“The origin of the potentially infected cattle is still being verified. The transport company responsible for moving the animals is under investigation, and all properties linked to this company over the past 30 days will be contacted and inspected,” the department stated.
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Movement of livestock monitored
The department said that to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, farm biosecurity measures must be implemented and maintained, all cloven-hoofed animals must be transported with a health declaration and a declaration that they will be kept in isolation at the destination for 28 days.
“All movements of livestock into and within the Western Cape must be reported via the online form. This enables Western Cape Veterinary Services to track and monitor high-risk movements.
“Information packs have been developed for animal and landowners, auctioneers, and livestock transporters to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities and applicable regulations,” the statement said.
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Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for agriculture and rural development, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, has raised concerns about the escalating FMD rate in the province.
“Despite stringent measures in place to curb the movement of livestock outside the disease management area (DMA) without a properly sought permit, the issue persists.
Outbreaks across the country
“The disease is not limited to KwaZulu-Natal, as provinces such as Gauteng, North West, Free State, and Mpumalanga are also grappling with the disease, although not as severely as in KwaZulu-Natal, which has 180 unresolved FMD outbreaks,” KaMadlopha-Mthethwa said.
The MEC reported that as of October 2025, there were 274 unresolved outbreaks across these provinces, with Free State’s confirmed cases at 56.
“Since mid-2025, there has been an increase in virus detections on farms and in feedlots, likely disseminated by auction and speculator sales of illegally moved animals combined with non-adherence to the 2022 legally prescribed 28-day isolation of animals post-movement and insufficient biosecurity.”
“The aim is to adopt new approaches aligned with the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH), enabling the province to gradually achieve FMD-free zonal status. However, I must caution that this process requires years of cooperation from all stakeholders,” she said.
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