22 April 2026

The ANC Study Group on Agriculture welcomes the department’s announcement of a new batch of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines and the indication that distribution to provinces will commence shortly. We affirm our readiness to engage constructively with the department, provincial authorities, organised agriculture, veterinary professionals, and industry bodies so that every additional dose translates into faster protection on the ground. 

We also believe it is important to acknowledge the public work that helped make the present response possible. Under former Minister Thoko Didiza, decisive steps were taken in August 2022 to suspend cattle movement nationally for 21 days when 116 outbreaks were active. By May 2023, the locally developed ARC vaccine had been re-registered for use in the department’s prevention programme and 20 000 doses had already been formulated, and in August 2023 the ARC together with the department announced the launch of that vaccine. The President then confirmed in the State of the Nation Address on 12 February 2026 that Foot and Mouth Disease had been classified as a national disaster, a decision formally gazetted on 13 February 2026 to strengthen a coordinated national response. These were important acts of leadership by the former department, its officials, veterinary scientists, and the President. 

Against that background, the new batch must now be managed with discipline and openness. We expect continuity in the vaccination programme and outbreak response, clear public reporting on allocation criteria and delivery progress, practical support for affected farmers across communal and commercial settings, and strict enforcement of surveillance, traceability, movement control and on farm biosecurity. The department has itself indicated a scientific, risk-based allocation approach and ongoing work to finalise the routine vaccination scheme, and these processes should now be communicated consistently and implemented without avoidable delay. 

At this stage, South Africa needs calm leadership, scientific integrity, and cooperative action. Protecting herds, livelihoods, food security and market access must remain the shared objective. The ANC Study Group stands ready to play a constructive oversight and support role so that the current intervention strengthens confidence, reaches affected farmers fairly, and helps move the country towards FMD free status with vaccination.

Issued by the Whip of the Study Group on Agriculture, Cde Sharon Davids.

For enquiries
Please contact: 0641473276
Cde: Hlengiwe Hadebe
Media Liaison Officer