IN CONVERSATION WITH BEYERS SMIT- The DA's Deputy National Spokesperson for Agriculture
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Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has launched a transformative, multi-
decade strategy to combat Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in South Africa,
targeting a return to a "disease-free" status by 2036. However, as of January
2026, the country is grappling with what experts call a national disaster, with
the disease reaching a "catastrophic" state across seven provinces.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The 2036 Vision vs the Current Crisis The long-
term strategy marks a fundamental shift in national policy toward "FMD-free
with vaccination." Historically, South Africa attempted to maintain disease-
09:35
free zones without vaccination to access premium export markets, but the
current epidemic has made that approach unfeasible. The roadmap to 2036
involves vaccinating the entire national herd of approximately 14 million
cattle, implementing a mandatory Digital Livestock Identification and
Traceability System (LITS), and building local vaccine production capacity.
While the 2036 goal provides a long-term "north star," the immediate reality
is a state of emergency, with KZN, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North
West, Free State, and the Western Cape all reporting active infections.
Biological Dangers of the Disease Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly
contagious viral illness that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs,
sheep, and goats. While it is rarely fatal to adult animals and does not infect
humans, its physical impact is debilitating. Animals develop painful blisters
on their snouts, tongues, and hooves, which often rupture into raw sores.
This makes it impossible for the animal to eat or walk, leading to extreme
weight loss and lameness. For dairy cows, the fever and pain cause milk
production to plummet by as much as 80%. In young animals like calves and
piglets, the virus can attack the heart muscle, leading to high mortality rates
and wiping out the next generation of a farmer’s herd. Economic Devastation
The economic consequences are estimated to be in the tens of billions of
rands, threatening the stability of South Africa’s R80 billion livestock industry.
Because FMD is a "trade-sensitive" disease, international markets—including
major partners like China—frequently impose total bans on South African
beef, wool, and dairy exports. Farmers are currently facing "catastrophic
balance sheet damage" as they are unable to move or sell their livestock due
to quarantine rules, yet they must still pay for feed and labor. Industry
experts warn that the livestock sector is facing its worst crisis in history, with
many family-owned farms and feedlots on the brink of bankruptcy because
they lack the cash flow to survive a prolonged trade shutdown. Impact on
Ordinary People The crisis directly affects the daily lives of South Africans
through food security and the cost of living. Consumers are seeing sharp
increases in the price of red meat and dairy products at supermarkets as
supply chains are disrupted and production costs for farmers rise. Beyond
the dinner table, the disease threatens thousands of jobs in the agricultural
value chain, including at abattoirs, transport companies, and rural retail
centers. For communal and
subsistence farmers, cattle often represent their entire life savings; when
FMD strikes, it destroys their primary source of wealth and protein, pushing
vulnerable families deeper into poverty. Furthermore, the psychological toll
on farmers and workers who must watch their animals suffer or be culled is
significant, leading to a mounting mental health crisis in rural communities.
High-Risk Quarantine Zones and Provincial Hotspots The current outbreak is
dominated by the SAT 2 serotype, with over 270 unresolved cases across the
country. KwaZulu-Natal remains the epicenter, particularly in the Dundee,
Newcastle, and Bergville districts, where westward spread has caused
significant concern. In the Free State, the situation is increasingly volatile
decade strategy to combat Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in South Africa,
targeting a return to a "disease-free" status by 2036. However, as of January
2026, the country is grappling with what experts call a national disaster, with
the disease reaching a "catastrophic" state across seven provinces.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The 2036 Vision vs the Current Crisis The long-
term strategy marks a fundamental shift in national policy toward "FMD-free
with vaccination." Historically, South Africa attempted to maintain disease-
09:35
free zones without vaccination to access premium export markets, but the
current epidemic has made that approach unfeasible. The roadmap to 2036
involves vaccinating the entire national herd of approximately 14 million
cattle, implementing a mandatory Digital Livestock Identification and
Traceability System (LITS), and building local vaccine production capacity.
While the 2036 goal provides a long-term "north star," the immediate reality
is a state of emergency, with KZN, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North
West, Free State, and the Western Cape all reporting active infections.
Biological Dangers of the Disease Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly
contagious viral illness that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs,
sheep, and goats. While it is rarely fatal to adult animals and does not infect
humans, its physical impact is debilitating. Animals develop painful blisters
on their snouts, tongues, and hooves, which often rupture into raw sores.
This makes it impossible for the animal to eat or walk, leading to extreme
weight loss and lameness. For dairy cows, the fever and pain cause milk
production to plummet by as much as 80%. In young animals like calves and
piglets, the virus can attack the heart muscle, leading to high mortality rates
and wiping out the next generation of a farmer’s herd. Economic Devastation
The economic consequences are estimated to be in the tens of billions of
rands, threatening the stability of South Africa’s R80 billion livestock industry.
Because FMD is a "trade-sensitive" disease, international markets—including
major partners like China—frequently impose total bans on South African
beef, wool, and dairy exports. Farmers are currently facing "catastrophic
balance sheet damage" as they are unable to move or sell their livestock due
to quarantine rules, yet they must still pay for feed and labor. Industry
experts warn that the livestock sector is facing its worst crisis in history, with
many family-owned farms and feedlots on the brink of bankruptcy because
they lack the cash flow to survive a prolonged trade shutdown. Impact on
Ordinary People The crisis directly affects the daily lives of South Africans
through food security and the cost of living. Consumers are seeing sharp
increases in the price of red meat and dairy products at supermarkets as
supply chains are disrupted and production costs for farmers rise. Beyond
the dinner table, the disease threatens thousands of jobs in the agricultural
value chain, including at abattoirs, transport companies, and rural retail
centers. For communal and
subsistence farmers, cattle often represent their entire life savings; when
FMD strikes, it destroys their primary source of wealth and protein, pushing
vulnerable families deeper into poverty. Furthermore, the psychological toll
on farmers and workers who must watch their animals suffer or be culled is
significant, leading to a mounting mental health crisis in rural communities.
High-Risk Quarantine Zones and Provincial Hotspots The current outbreak is
dominated by the SAT 2 serotype, with over 270 unresolved cases across the
country. KwaZulu-Natal remains the epicenter, particularly in the Dundee,
Newcastle, and Bergville districts, where westward spread has caused
significant concern. In the Free State, the situation is increasingly volatile
