As the deadline approaches for Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen to respond to a formal letter of demand from the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), Sakeliga, and Free State Agriculture, the threat of a court case over foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine procurement looms large. The groups are demanding the right for livestock owners and the private sector to independently source and administer vaccines, bypassing what they call "state gatekeeping and red tape.
" With the response due by close of business on January 30, 2026, experts and stakeholders are weighing the potential fallout of litigation amid an escalating national crisis that has already cost the livestock industry billions and threatens food security.
FMD has plagued South Africa since 2021, but exploded into a full-blown disaster in early 2025 when infected cattle from KwaZulu-Natal were auctioned and spread the virus to Mpumalanga and Gauteng. Now active in seven provinces, the outbreak has led to export bans, production halts, and massive financial losses—estimated at over R5.6 billion. Minister Steenhuisen announced a national vaccination plan on January 14, 2026, aiming to import millions of doses from sources like Turkey (Dollvet via Dunevax Biotech) and Argentina (Biogénesis Bagó via Design Biologix), with the first shipments expected by late January.
WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- The high Gold price and the The World Economic Forum's (WEF) latest Global Risks ReportHowever, farmers argue the state's monopoly on vaccines—mandated under the Animal Diseases Act (1984)—has caused deadly delays, as the Department of Agriculture lacks the capacity to vaccinate effectively. The letter of demand seeks written confirmation allowing private action, asserting that suppliers are ready and private vets could enable rapid, decentralised responses.Steenhuisen has condemned the move as "unfortunate" and "reckless," warning it attacks the legal framework essential for regaining "FMD-free with vaccination" status from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). He highlighted risks from unregulated vaccines, citing a KwaZulu-Natal incident where illegally imported doses introduced new O and A strains.
Potential Positive Consequences
If the court case proceeds and rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it could accelerate FMD containment:
- Faster Vaccination Rollout: Private procurement would allow farmers to act immediately, potentially saving herds and reducing spread. Saai's Theo de Jager has called state control "irrational," noting ample global vaccine supplies.
- Reduced Economic Losses: With farmers facing insolvency and milk producers reporting up to R5 million per farm in losses, private action could stem the tide, preserving jobs and stabilizing local meat/dairy prices.
- Precedent for Private Sector Role: A win could reform how state-controlled diseases are managed, shifting toward hybrid models where private vets and producers handle administration under oversight, boosting efficiency in future crises.
- Enhanced Food Security: Quicker control might reopen export markets sooner, preventing a "secondary economic collapse" as warned by Saai.
- Delays in National Plan: Court proceedings might halt or slow vaccine imports and rollout, diverting veterinary resources and funds to legal defenses. The Minister noted this could "derail" the plan, prolonging the 12-month virus-free period needed for WOAH status.
- Resource Diversion: Department officials would shift focus from frontline response to answering the case, potentially worsening outbreaks. Financially, money for vaccines or staff could be redirected to court costs.
- Risk of New Strains and Chaos: Unregulated private vaccination raises fears of substandard or mismatched vaccines introducing new strains, as seen in KZN, undermining national biosecurity.
- Prolonged Economic Damage: Exports remain restricted, and delays could lead to higher local prices, job losses, and broader supply chain disruptions. The crisis already threatens the viability of beef, dairy, and wool sectors.
- Political and Social Fallout: The case highlights deep distrust between farmers and government, with Steenhuisen accusing groups of exploiting hardships for membership and donations. A loss for the state could erode authority over animal health, while a win might alienate farmers further.
If unmet, court filings could follow, potentially reshaping how South Africa combats agricultural crises. For now, farmers remain in limbo, urging swift action to save their livelihoods.
South African farmers are at breaking point with the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis, and their growing frustration is completely understandable—unless you've stood in their boots, watching herds suffer, production collapse, and livelihoods vanish while waiting for government action that feels endlessly delayed.The outbreak, active since 2021 but exploding in 2025 after infected cattle from KwaZulu-Natal spread via auctions to Mpumalanga and Gauteng, now ravages seven provinces. Exports are blocked (losses already over R5.6 billion), dairy and beef farmers face massive hits (some milk producers report up to R5 million per farm), jobs hang in the balance, and food prices are set to rise sharply. Farmers feel helpless: they see animals dying or in pain, yet under the Animal Diseases Act (1984), FMD is a strictly state-controlled disease—only the government can procure and distribute vaccines. Private farmers and vets are barred from sourcing or administering them themselves, even if they can afford imported doses.
The farmers' perspective is raw: they've waited years through ignored warnings (e.g., 2021 ministerial taskforce), vaccine shortages at OBP, and slow bureaucracy. They can't "beg" for permission to save their own animals while the state struggles. The crisis feels man-made—state failure, not nature—and many see private involvement as the only way to stop the bleeding.
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