South Africa's Portfolio Committee on Agriculture has called for urgent action to address weaknesses in the country's response to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), warning that structural challenges continue to hamper efforts to contain and eradicate the disease.
The call follows engagements between the committee, agriculture minister, provincial MECs for agriculture and senior officials from national and provincial agriculture departments on measures to combat the outbreak.
The committee welcomed progress in expanding the national vaccination programme, including the procurement of 17 million vaccine doses, with a further four million expected. It also welcomed government's decisio
n to broaden vaccine distribution through the private sector and increase the number of authorised vaccinators, describing the move as an important step towards a more coordinated national response.
Several provinces were commended for their vaccination efforts despite resource constraints. North West has vaccinated nearly 85% of its cattle population, while the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal have each surpassed the 50% mark. KwaZulu-Natal alone has vaccinated more than 1.3 million cattle.
Eastern Cape a concern
However, the committee expressed concern over the Eastern Cape, home to South Africa's largest cattle herd of about 3.6 million animals, where fewer than 40% of cattle have been vaccinated. It called for urgent national support to accelerate the province's vaccination campaign.
Committee members said the country's response remains constrained by a shortage of veterinarians, animal health technicians, data capturers and other technical staff. High vacancy rates are delaying vaccination campaigns, disease surveillance and reporting.
Inadequate funding also remains a major obstacle, with provinces reporting insufficient budgets to sustain vaccination programmes, quarantine operations, livestock movement controls and disease monitoring. The committee said long-term funding is essential to restore South Africa's animal health status, protect food security and safeguard export markets.
Members also raised concerns about weaknesses in the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS), citing shortages of electronic identification tags, computer equipment and technical support. They said an effective traceability system is critical for disease control and maintaining international confidence in South African livestock products.
Myriad challenges
The committee further highlighted challenges including illegal livestock movements, porous borders, inadequate quarantine facilities, a shortage of municipal animal pounds and inconsistent compliance with disease reporting requirements.
Acting committee chairperson Dr Nobuhle Nkabane said vaccine availability alone would not eliminate FMD. "Success will require adequate funding, skilled personnel, modern traceability systems, strengthened border management, effective enforcement, improved infrastructure and sustained cooperation between all spheres of government and industry stakeholders," she said.
The committee has requested regular progress reports on vaccine procurement and distribution, provincial vaccination performance, recruitment of veterinary personnel, implementation of livestock traceability systems, quarantine infrastructure and the long-term national roadmap to control and eradicate FMD.
It also reiterated its support for classifying FMD as a disaster to unlock emergency funding and additional resources for affected provinces and vulnerable livestock farmers, while noting that this does not constitute a formal state of disaster.
The committee said it would continue to monitor government's response as efforts continue to protect South Africa's livestock industry, rural livelihoods, food security and export markets. - Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
