Steenhuisen addresses concerns over Foot-and-mouth disease crisis

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to spread beyond its epicentre in KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and North West and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen admits the outbreak remains a serious concern. In an exclusive interview with Farmer’s Weekly and FarmTalk, Steenhuisen tells Gary Wium and Tinus Havinga that South Africa’s FMD crisis is “not yet under control”, but insists a science-led mass vaccination campaign targeting 80% of the national herd by year-end will turn the tide. He outlines urgent vaccine imports from Argentina and Turkey, prioritisation of feedlots and dairies, stricter movement controls, and a sweeping rebuild of the country’s biosecurity system. Steenhuisen also addresses criticism over centralised vaccine control, industry frustration over animal movement enforcement, and government accountability, pledging partnership with farmers to restore FMD-free status and unlock global red meat markets.