Despite detailed questions submitted to Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s office ahead of publication, no response was received. Queries were acknowledged and passed between ministry and departmental officials, ultimately reaching the office of the Deputy Director General for Agricultural Production, Biosecurity and Natural Resources Management, but no substantive reply was provided.
The silence comes as minutes from a 17 March meeting of the Ministerial Task Team on Controlled Animal Diseases, submitted in court proceedings, reveal growing concern among these officials and scientists about the effectiveness of the country’s FMD control programme.
Diagnostics collapse emerges as primary risk
While vaccine supply has dominated public debate, the task team identified a more immediate threat: the failure of the diagnostic system.
Provincial veterinary services reported waiting months for confirmation of circulating virus strains, with limited feedback from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). Members described the situation as a “critical system risk”, signalling that the absence of timely diagnostics is undermining the country’s ability to respond strategically to the outbreak.
Vaccine rollout slowed by regulatory friction
At the same time, vaccine rollout remains constrained by regulatory bottlenecks and supply uncertainty.
The task team agreed that mass vaccination of the national herd should proceed urgently and continue for up to three years. However, delays in issuing Section 21 permits for imported vaccines are slowing procurement and creating uncertainty for manufacturers.
One producer indicated it would not proceed with manufacturing additional doses without regulatory assurance, highlighting the fragility of supply chains.
Concerns over vaccine quality (including reports of underfilled vials) have added to the uncertainty, although members agreed these should not halt vaccination efforts.
Farmer’s Weekly’s questions put to Steenhuisen’s office on timelines to resolve these issues and secure supply went unanswered.
Shift to targeted vaccination strategy
The task team endorsed a more targeted vaccination approach, prioritising “ring vaccination”, which involves immunising farms surrounding outbreaks rather than those already heavily infected.
This strategy is intended to contain spread more efficiently and preserve limited vaccine stocks. However, implementation remains uneven, with stakeholders still awaiting clear operational guidance on booster schedules, species prioritisation and field-level decision-making.
Scientific uncertainty persists
Preliminary international testing has raised concerns about the match between available vaccines and circulating virus strains, particularly for the SAT1 serotype.
While experts cautioned that vaccine matching is not the sole determinant of effectiveness, the findings add to uncertainty at a time when rapid, large-scale vaccination is being prioritised.
The role of buffalo in disease transmission also remains unresolved. The task team warned against vaccinating buffalo due to potential trade and diagnostic complications, opting instead to prioritise cattle in high-risk areas.
Court forces movement on vaccination scheme
Efforts to formalise a national Routine Vaccination Scheme are ongoing but remain incomplete. However, is it now under direct legal pressure.
A recent court order compels the Minister of Agriculture to promulgate and publish the national animal health scheme for FMD in the Government Gazette by no later than 17 April 2026, in terms of Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act or other relevant regulations.
The directive effectively forces government to formalise a vaccination framework that has been the subject of prolonged industry concern.
However, the task team minutes reflect ongoing uncertainty about the scheme’s legal alignment, governance structure and implementation. Members warned against fragmented approaches, parallel structures and over-reliance on specific industry platforms, emphasising the need for a unified, inclusive system aligned with existing legislation.
Stakeholders are still awaiting clarity on how the scheme will be implemented in practice, which is another issue Farmer’s Weekly raised with Steenhuisen’s office without response.
Evidence supports regulatory reform, but confusion remains
New field research presented to the task team indicates that recovered animals pose minimal risk when slaughtered under controlled conditions. No infectious virus was detected in meat or organs, supporting recent regulatory changes that reduce the waiting period before slaughter from six months to three.
However, inconsistent interpretation of “maturation” requirements across provinces is creating operational confusion and economic losses, underscoring the need for clearer national guidance.
Export risks and opportunities
Despite the outbreak, opportunities remain to expand exports to Middle Eastern markets, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan. However, progress depends on aligning domestic controls with importing country requirements and ensuring consistent interpretation across provinces.
Failure to do so risks undermining market access at a time when the sector is already under pressure.
A system under strain
Eight months into the outbreak, the task team’s own assessment points to a system that is technically capable, but operationally inconsistent.
In questions submitted to government, Farmer’s Weekly sought clarity on vaccine procurement, diagnostic turnaround times, policy alignment and surveillance coordination. No answers were provided.
Without urgent intervention to restore diagnostic capacity, accelerate regulatory processes and align policy implementation, South Africa risks prolonging the outbreak, with significant consequences for livestock producers, processors and export markets.
