Govt hosts Indaba to tackle foot and mouth outbreak
The Department of Agriculture (DoA) will host a high-level national Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Indaba, in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the University of Pretoria, and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP).
The two-day Indaba, taking place on 21 and 22 July at the ARC-VIMP Campus in Roodeplaat, comes in response to ongoing FMD outbreaks across several provinces — including KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and most recently, the Free State.
The disease has led to restrictions on livestock movement and has significantly impacted South Africa’s red meat trade, especially in international markets.
The gathering will bring together the country’s leading veterinary and agricultural experts to confront one of the most urgent threats to the livestock industry.
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa will co-host the Indaba.
"Having already inflicted significant damage to the multibillion-rand livestock sector, the disease continues to threaten South Africa’s broader economy,” said Steenhuisen.
“The Indaba presents a vital opportunity to unite expertise and resources to eradicate this devastating disease.”
The event will focus on developing a coordinated and comprehensive response to FMD, with key strategies including the strengthening of farm-level biosecurity, implementing effective vaccination programmes and enforcing strict animal movement controls.
"The Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the ARC, remains firmly committed to finding sustainable solutions. This Indaba is a crucial step in the fight against FMD,” Steenhuisen added.
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